Is this a Scam or Fraud?

Question

Is it a scam or fraud if some one sends you a check in the mail for 2,000 dollars to pay taxes and administration fees for money that they say you have won ($50,000). It's from a agent called Latex Finance Incorporated, an agent of Euro-Million Lotteries. The check looks legit. the check has Netzero-Department CRM , Woodland Hills, CA, in the upper left corner and the name of the bank is Silicon Valley Bank/ Mellon Bank, N.A. Pitsburg, PA. could this be a real check

Answer 1

If this is a scam it is what is called a Lottery Scam where a winner is informed they have won a contest (which they usually have not entered and have no knowledge of) and asked to send money in to claim the prize or they are sent a check and asked to send money back to cover fees associated with claiming the prize...

So whether this is a scam depends on many things. Usually when it is a scam they ask you to send a portion of the money back to pay for taxes and administration fees associated with claiming your prize. They ask you to wire the money back to them so that by the time you realize the check was fradulent the money you sent is gone.

As a bank teller I advise you to take the check to your bank and ask them to examine it. Even if they think it is a good check ask them to put an extended hold on the check so the funds are not available to you until the check has cleared. I will advise that most banks consider 11 days to be an extended hold (according to the US government) but that may not actually be enough time to know if the check has actually cleared. I would advise more like a 21 day hold to be safe.

If they have asked you to send money DO NOT DO IT UNTIL THE CHECK HAS CLEARED YOUR ACCOUNT. I have never had a customer that sent the money they were asked to send and actually had the check clear their account.

Answer 2

http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070423125205AASrqQb

That link addresses the issue.

Even though you didn't play a lottery foreign lotteries are illegal to play in the USA.

Another Sweepstakes Scam Targets Utah Consumers
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers of a scam sending sweepstakes notices to Utah consumers.

Mailings from Latex Finance Incorporated state that consumers have won $50,000. A check is included with the mailing to pay for "tax and administrative expenses." While the sweepstakes uses an address in Alaska, and the checks use numerous well-known U.S. company names and current addresses, but the phone numbers go to Canada.

Jane Driggs, president of the Better Business Bureau of Utah, emphasizes that "consumers who put this check into their bank account and wire money to the scam artists in Canada will lose their money. No consumer should ever wire money to a company to win a sweepstakes or lottery."

Answer 3

Are they asking you to cash the check and send them back the money to cover your taxes and fees???????

If so the answer is yes it is a scam.

This check will bounce in about 10 days after you deposit it or cash it. You will have sent the cash via western union by this time to the scammer. You will be out the $2000 you sent the scammer and the bank will want the $2000 to cover the counterfeit check.


Check the below web address for more information on this scam and others.

Answer 4

If this is the website there's an "other" at the bottom of the list of scams, you could use that and then put something in the further information box. It's always worth reporting scams to try to reduce the chances of the more gullible falling for them.

Answer 5

No one sends checks like these to anyone unless they think they are going to get more in return.

Euro-million lotteries is what gives it away. I would tear it up quite happily.

But, if you want to be sure, type any of the groups of words or names into a search engine and see what you get. There are sites that will actually help you identify the exact hoax.

Or you can take it into your bank and see how hard they laugh at it.

Good luck

Answer 6

Yes, it's a scam. The check is counterfeit. Do not deposit it. You cannot win a lottery you did not enter. Report it to the postal authorities.

Answer 7

No, it is a scam. Just destroy the check.

The scam is, you put it in your checking account, it takes forever to "clear", in the meantime you have spent the money, then the check is returned as fradulent.

Answer 8

Scam! Here is how it works:

http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/lotterycheck_IntlSweep.php

Answer 9

It's a scam.

Answer 10

i say scam. rip it up and throw it away. you cant be too careful.