i rec'd a letter and a check for $2997 for "winning" a contest from Valtes International Managment Group.scam?

Question

check is drawn on the TCF Nationasl Bank in Minneapolis MN and looks legit....but i didn't enter a contest. letter came from Canada and i know a lot of scams originate there...anybody have feedback regarding this particular scam?

Answer 1

You don't get anything for nothing, it's a scam do not answer do not give personal information. The iinternet is safe enough if you are careful but please answer nothing that you are doubtful about.Good Luck and be careful

Answer 2

SCAM and it all starts like this:

You receive an unsolicited email, which states that you have won a major prize in an international lottery. Supposedly, your email address was collected online and attached to a random number that was subsequently entered in a draw for the lottery. In order to claim your prize, you are instructed to contact the official "agent" in charge of your case. You are also advised to keep the win confidential for "security reasons". This part of the scam is basically a random phishing expedition. If you respond in any way to the email, the scammers will send further messages or even contact you by phone in an attempt to draw you deeper into the scam.

You may be asked to provide banking details, a large amount of personal information, and copies of your driver's licence and passport. Ostensibly, these requests are to prove your identity and facilitate the transfer of your winnings. However, if you comply with these requests, the scammers will have enough information to steal your identity.

Sooner or later, the scammers will request some sort of advance fee supposedly to cover administration, legal or delivery costs. At its core, this scam is just a reworking of the Nigerian loan fraud, in which scammers also eventually ask for upfront fees to facilitate the "deal". Like Nigerian scams, victims who do actually pay the requested fees will probably find that they receive continuing payment demands to cover "unexpected expenses". The requests for money will go on until the victim realizes what is happening or has no further money to send.

In some cases, the scammers give victims the option of opening an account at a particular bank as an alternative to paying upfront fees. However, this "bank" which is completely bogus, will insist on an initial deposit of $3000 as a requirement for opening the account. The fake bank will have a legitimate looking website to reinforce the scam. In other cases, the victim is given the option of travelling to an overseas destination and paying a cash fee to facilitate the release of the funds. However, any "winnings" released to the victim will be counterfeit and therefore worthless.

The details of the lottery scams vary regularly with regard to the name of the lottery itself, the country of origin, the sponsoring organization, the amount of the "prize" and other particulars. The scammers try to add a patina of legitimacy to their claims by mentioning real financial institutions, government departments or well-known companies. They may also provide links to slick looking, but fraudulent websites that are designed to back up information included in the scam emails. If the scammers are successful in establishing a dialogue with a potential victim, they may provide "proof" such as a scanned image of a supposed government official's ID and even photographs of the "winnings" in cash.

Answer 3

Run it through the shredder; haven't you been listening to the News or Judge Judy? They tell you to deposit the check; then only send them back so much, for whatever reason & for you to keep the rest. Well, by the time your bank finds out that the check isn't any good, they go after you, cause it was you that they gave all this money too; the crooks has the money you sent to them, & the bank goes after you for every penny that they cashed the check for. ALL those checks are official-looking, but they are NO FUNDS to cover them. You have to pay the bank back, for the whole check, too; plus their fees they charge you, cause of it all. We even have a commercial on our Florida Televisions warning about this. You just remember, that nothing is free anymore, unless you win the Lotto.

Answer 4

The check probably is legit, but if you cash - you can be prosecuted. I have posted the link to the Federal Trade commissions website for you. Wouldn't it be nice though??


ALot of folks are saying take it to the bank or call the bank - they will probably say it is legit also - but you are still partly responsible for any fraud.

Answer 5

In the UK we have had similar scams also from Canada, Kenya and many European cities.
Nothing is for free in this life and if you are not "in it", how on earth can you " win it "? Good luck with your next lottery ticket !

Answer 6

Canadians are notoriously evil and crafty people...Seriously, take it to your bank, or better yet, your local post master. Not only is this a scam, but mail fraud as well.

Answer 7

call the bank and check it out, i would guess it is a scam, but maybe the bank would like to know that they are being used to scam $$$$

Answer 8

I haven't heard of this one. First, scrutinize the check carefully, to see if it contains any words committing you to do something if you cash it. If it passes, take it to your bank and deposit it, subject to collection. The bank will not credit your account with the money unless and until the check is actually paid. If it does get paid, treat yourself to a dinner out.

Answer 9

Scam. Dont judge us Canadians by this , I get them from all over

Answer 10

SCAM, SCAM SCAM SCAM SCAM. Do not cash the check! Throw it away immediately.