TODAY I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM READER'S DIGEST NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS (FINANCE DEPARTMENT) THE LETTER STATES I WON 48,750.00. THEY ENCLOSED A CASHIERS CHECK FOR 3,225.00 TO HELP WITH FINANCING MY INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE FEE. TO BE USED TOWARDS AUTHORIZING AND PROCESING MY WINNINGS.
BEINGS THE CURIOUS PERSON I AM AND THE 11 MONTHS WHICH I STUDIED MANY YEARS AGO TO BECOME A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AN ALARM WENT OFF!!!!!! WHY WOULD THEY SEND ME A CHECK FOR OVER 3000.00 IF I WON? WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST SEND THE 48,750.00?
I WENT ON LINE, TYPED IN THE BANK NAME ON THE CHECK AND CITY AND STATE.
BLUE RIDGE BANK and TRUST CO.
KANSAS CITY, MO 64133
1-816-795-4135 (PHONE NUMBER)
I TOLD THE LADY I RECEIVED A LETTER AND CASHIERS CHECK. I GAVE HER THE CHECK NUMBER AND OTHER INFO. SHE ASKED ME 1. WAS IT FROM READERS DIGEST? YES IT WAS. 2. WAS IT MAILED FROM CANADA? YES IT WAS.
SHE SAYS I AM SORRY MA'M BUT WE RECENTLY HAD A SECURITY BREACHE AND PERSON OR PERSON'S HAVE BEEN USING OUR BANK INFORMATION AND CODES TO SCAM PEOPLE. SO, THEREFORE THE CHECK YOU RECEIVED IS NOT VALID. I TOLD THE LADY, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS VALID, BUT I WANTED TO BE SURE. THAT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES IN MY MAIL, TO ME IT ALWAYS SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. SHE IS MAILING ME AN ENVELOPE SO I CAN MAIL HER THE LETTER, CHECK AND ENVELOPE IT ALL CAME IN TO HELP THEM TOWARDS PROSECUTING THESE SCAMMERS.
WHAT GETS ME IS, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME OF YEAR TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WITH THESE SCAMS. PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY BILLS, OR HAVE A CHRISTMAS FOR THEIR CHILDREN RECEIVE THESE TYPE OF CHECKS AND GO TO THE BANK ALL HAPPY, LATER TO BE OUT ALL THIS MONEY BECAUSE THE CHECK THEY DEPOSITED AND SPENT WAS A FAKE CHECK. AND HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY BACK TO THEIR BANK.
IF YOU RECEIVE A LETTER AND CHECK SUCH AS THIS, PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT CASH IT. CALL THE PHONE NUMBER I HAVE ENCLOSED ABOVE IF IT IS FROM KANSAS CITY, MO AND GIVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION SO YOU CAN MAKE SURE IF THIS CHECK IS FOR REAL OR NOT. AND IF YOU WANT TO, YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO COPY THIS ENTRY AND EMAIL IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, SO THEY DON'T GET TRAPPED INTO SUCH A SCAM AS THIS.
TOGETHER BY HELPING TO ALERT OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES, MAYBE ONE DAY WE CAN PUT A STOP TO THESE SCAM ARTISTS WHO ARE TRYING TO STEAL OUR HARD EARNED MONEY.
GOD BLESS.......................CINDY
I was gonna say it's a scam because in the end you have to pay all the fees and money back to the bank for a bounced check.
ReplyDeleteTake care, Chrissie
I'm caroling in J-Land stop by and listen to my song.
http://journals.aol.com/nay0114/almost-paradise-ii/entries/2007/12/13/caroling-through-j-land--/1850
Sometimes when a person signs a check like that they are also signing for something else like a loan. Scammers are scum. Helen
ReplyDeleteI have gotten stuff similar to that. Sad really, so many vulnerable people and elderly get taken advantage of with scams. Sad :( I think that was great you called so they could get that stuff from you, that always helps.
ReplyDeleteHugs Sis
Ang
I am so glad you are smart. For many people, their need or their greed would have gotten the better of them. I would have smelled SCAM too. So glad you informed the public in your journal too.
ReplyDeleteBless your heart for offering to be there for me after you've lost your own family member recently and dealing with Mommom 1's illness too. I may IM you later or soon.
Love you, Nelishia
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/PrayingandBelieving/
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/Crocheted-creations/
Yes, definately a scam because Reader's Digest in located in NY state! Linda
ReplyDeleteglad to know SOMEBODY pays attention to this stuff
ReplyDeleteOMG Cindy, glad you figured out that was a scam, Love You Lisa XO
ReplyDeleteThat is so sad that people would send out false checks, and likely, ultimately, get people's personal identifying information as well. I got a scam e-mail recently that was SO clever, mimicked my banks quite well, except gee, I had to respond within 48 hours or they'll have to assume my account is fraudulent?, and to help me out, they included a link. Uh-hoh, to update my personal information. A lot on there could have been legitimate, including the note that Wachovia would never ask for a password or PIN or whatever they said. Still. I forwarded it on to abuse@wachovia.com , and also logged into my Wachovia bank NOT via their link, but directly from my own saved bookmarks, and checked that all was okay. It was, and it was a scam. Glad you knew to recognize this. What a shame.
ReplyDeleteI get a bout 10 of them a day! Horrible isn't it?
ReplyDeletebe well,
Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/princesssaurora/CarpeDiem/
Thank you for the warning. I didn't know you went to school to be a PI?? You should tell us some stories about that!
ReplyDeleteLove ya,
Pam
Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Gretchen
Cindy glad you recognised that as a scam ~ Ally x
ReplyDeletethanks for the info. Wow, imagine if that cash WAS yours!
ReplyDeleteLove ya soooooooo, lj
I am getting a lot of scam emails purporting to be from my bank telling me that because of inappropriate transactions my account has been frozen and I need to go to this particular site and re-enter my details. I have had it from two other banks as well but as I have never had dealings with either of them I just deleted. The ones from "my" bank have been forwarded to the bank who will no doubt take it up.
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/
WELL DONE CINDY IT IS OVIOUS YOU ARE NO FOOL. I AGREE WITH E VERYTHING YOU SAID. THESE THINGS HAPPEN HERE IN THE U.K. ONLY TO OFTEN INOCENT PEOPLE ARE BEING SCAMED INTO THINKING THEY HAVE WON A LOT OF MONEY. THANKS FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. KATHIE.
ReplyDeleteCindy.....You can go to www.ripoffreports.com to make a complaint against them. You wouldn't believe all the info you get on companies there. There may be a dash between ripoff and reports. Merry Christmas! I'm Christmas caroling thru J-Land. You can click on the link below for my carol.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
D
http://journals.aol.com/heavenlybama/journey-to-success/entries/2007/12/14/christmas-caroling-thru-j-land/800
I found out something else too. I am on the do not call registry. I have received at least 10 calls from 2 companies this past week. I looked them up online and found they were telemarketers. I wrote down the dates, time called their name and phone number and filed complaints against them on the do not call registry. Any complaints results in them being fined. I even answered on one of the calls and they HUNG UP on me. That was enough to piss me off to make a complaint.
ReplyDeleteSimilar things like this happen on Craigslist and they warn you of scammers that send you a check that goes through the bank at the time, but like you say, you end up owing the bank the money later, the check gets found out later that it is bad. Meanwhile whatever you sold is gone already. People are terrible. Glad you saw right through it.
ReplyDelete