Sweepstakes Scams

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Posted: 7:29 AM Jul 22, 2008
Last Updated: 7:29 AM Jul 22, 2008
Reporter: Heather King

16 comments

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The Better Business Bureau says three sweepstakes companies are running scams.

CDN Financial, TD Financial and P. & A. Financial are the companies listed in the BBB consumer alert.

The BBB says these companies are mailing letters to people, saying they've won up to $525,000. The award letters include a check that is supposed to pay taxes on the winnings. The BBB says the checks are counterfeit, and that these companies are running a scam.

Remember, officials say you should not have to pay upfront on a sweepstakes win.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Larry Location: Utah on May 2, 2009 at 11:56 PM
My son just received a letter from Time Warner Simpler Marketing Sweepstakes Division. With two checks, him being the 6th winner. Winning a raffle for $26,148.40 USD. Along with a letter and the cost for a legal affidavit in the amout of $2,614.84 USD. The affidavit can be obtained from Delve Legal Services, which when Googled appears to be a real organization. He is supposed to call Sarah Maxwell at 1-866-990-3790. The checsk are from DELVE LLC; Enterprise Banking. Thanks everyone for the information.

Posted by: Carol Location: Mentone, AL on Apr 28, 2009 at 07:13 PM
The Time Warner Simpler marketing Division Scam is still alive and kicking. I got one today saying I'd won $29,500. A check for the whole amount was included along with another check for 10% of that to cover the 'legal affidavit' without which it is supposedly illegal to even receive the prize check. (Does that mean I broke the law just opening the envelope?) Of course, you have to go through their lawyer to get the affidavit. I didn't bother to call, but I'm sure it works the same way . . . cash or deposit the check and send them cash. The really funny thing was that it was in a plain envelope with a computer generated address sticker (last name first)and the 'letterhead' chopped off the 'Ti' in Time Warner. What a joke!

Posted by: James Location: W sacramento, ca on Feb 5, 2009 at 08:05 PM
I just got through talking to a women who claimed she was an Attorney hired by Time Warner. I was issued two checks also, one was a cashiers check and she said it could not bounce. (Cashier Checks can be canelled too). I questioned this attorney and she had some convincing language, but still I am confident it is another check scam. She asked me to call her back and I never did. BEWARE

Posted by: Olga Location: San Antonio, TX on Jan 24, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Got the same letter. I was skeptical but in the back of my mind, thinking "Wow what if this is true." Thank goodness for the internet. I am a Time Warner customer and so is my elderly Mother and I told her about this. The elderly are vulnerable to these sorts of prize scams and I encourage everyone to alert their elderly relatives, who for the most part do not use the internet.

Posted by: Jack Location: Pittsburgh PA on Jan 24, 2009 at 01:26 PM
Same Time Warner Simpler Marketing Sweepstake 48,000 check and 1890 The 1890 drawn on Space Coast Credit Union which you can google and fine in FL Address in Melbourne but phone number is not right Hopeful people atleast check the net and not fall for these scams.. I will call the credit union and tell them about the fake checks J

Posted by: Kathy Location: Sacramento, CA on Jan 21, 2009 at 03:26 PM
On Jan 20, I received same letter Bill in Maysville did: Didn't call for fear that phone call would rack up hugh phone bill, thinking it might be one of those off shore numbers. So what can we do about it? Thought it might be postal fraud, but post office said to contact the police. Guess I will. Seems pointless though.

Posted by: Melissa Location: Dayton Tn on Dec 31, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Seems we all have something in common we got the Time Warner one yesterday. The envelope did not look like it came from a business and they used my husbands nick name not his legal name so we were suspicious right off the bat. Thank god for sites like this hope everyone is lucky enough to find it!

Posted by: Enola Location: Nokomis, Florida on Dec 30, 2008 at 08:27 AM
I received the notice from Simpler Marketing with the exact wording that Bill received. I called and pretended to go through the steps they were requiring and they told me to cash the $1890.00 and go to the Western Union office at the local Publix and wire the money to someone in London. Once they suggested to send cash, I knew it was a scam and went online to see if others had received the same notice. The idea is to have you cash the check at your bank and send them the money before you find out that the check is fraudulent. As Bill stated anything too good to be true.......

Posted by: Bill Location: Maysville on Dec 17, 2008 at 09:08 PM
I recieved one from Time Warner Simpler Marketing Sweepstakes Division today in the Mail. Had a letter that said I won $48,000 even had a check for the full amount and a 2nd one for $1,890 for Legal Affidavit cost. They went so far as to Advise Xpress legel Services for Assisitance. Phone number tracks to Cell Phone. No address on file to match HQ's. To good to be true.

Posted by: sonja Location: foster on Sep 26, 2008 at 06:17 PM
We too have recived one of these scams from a company.unmark captial corp is the name they are using. I first tried to call the bank that it was to be drawn off of. No answer. I then called Sunmark in St Louis, Mo they have a special line telling you not to cash the check that it is a fraud. I knew it was to good to be ture. I hope no one falls for this scam. Thank you for listning to me. Sonja Foster

Posted by: Sarena Mclaurin Location: Havelock, NC on Sep 13, 2008 at 04:06 PM
I recieved a letter from Arista Financial Group INC / International Claims Department/ Ace engineering incorporated stating that I had won $40,000 dollars in a North American Lottery Game 2nd category.There was a check for $3950.00 it stated that I had to contact the "Claim Agent" because I had to pay government taxes by western union or moneygram out of the check to recieve the final amount. The check is made out from Grand Bank & Trust of Florida in West Palm Beach which is actually a real bank but the checks are stolen or counterfeit. I have not cashed this check because I contacted a lawyer and he advised me that it may be fake. After researching online Im sure now that it is. Please be Careful because people have cashed these checks with no problem. Later after the check clears or doesnt for that matter you owe your bank every dime plus fees!!!! BEWARE!!!

Posted by: Ernestine Russell Location: Windsor, NC on Aug 30, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I received a letter from COMCAST saying I have won money in Reader's Digest Publisher Clearning House. It includes a check that covers the taxes and clearance fees. Is this a scam?

Posted by: GARY Location: SUN CITY on Aug 19, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Recieved a certified letter from ENTRY EXCHANGE-P.O. BOX 521499 MIAMI FL.8/19/08 STATING HAD PRIZE BREAKOUT OF $18,336,081.10 & TO CLAIM SEND,$100.00 to AMERICAN ENTRY EXCHANGE at above address.Would sure like to hear they recieved what they deserve.

Posted by: theresa Location: PEA RIDGE on Aug 18, 2008 at 04:14 PM
GOT CALL FROM A WOMAN NAMED MRS SAMPSON SAYING SHE WAS FROM GLOBAL FINICAL AND I'VE WON 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS ALL I HAD TO DO WAS PAY A $400.00 DEPOIST TO RECIVE MONEY THE NUMBER SHE CALLED FROM WAS 378-3091 WITH NO AERA CODE

Posted by: johnny gatlin Location: greenville,n.c, on Aug 18, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I recieved a check from publishers clearing house,from meter services at north fork bank.I was wondering how i could find out if this check is any good?

Posted by: Virginia Location: Plymouth, NC on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I have received an email congratulations from yahoo stating that I have won $525,000 from some place in London. I sent you an email earlier about a government grant program and have not heard anything from you about that. I would appreciate some information about both of these businesses. Also is there a special website that you have that we can just read the different comments? Thank you.

EDITOR'S NOTE: These are both most likely scams. If you did not enter a contest and suddenly you're a winner then someone is trying to con you.

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