778-885-4077

got a letter saying I won money and to call the number.

I received a check (for government service tax) and letter saying I won the American
family publishing sweepstakes. And to call this # 1-778-885-4077. Is this a scam

It sounds like I received the same letter from G&F Financial in Vancouver, BC with a check in the amount of $4980.00 from G&F Tronics in Florida.  While the check looks to be authentic in appearance at first glance, it seems to be missing some info, such as the address and phone number for the bank.  There are also too many other flags (no google match for names, businesses, addresses, etc.) in the letter that indicates this is a scam.  As the expression goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn't.

That's the same letter I received. Check SunAmerican Bank, from G&F Tronics Inc.,
Jupiter. Fl. amount (4,980.00), Tax Agent Chelsen Fiester, claims agent:Steve Brown
and Nancy Dickons.We did not enter into no such sweepstakes. I have looked around
the web and you can fill out forms at the Federal Trades comm. or the Postal service.
My husband also received a call on his cell a week before the letter. said, he had
won large amount of money, but needed credit card information, My husband laughed and the guy hung up on him. I hope these people are caught. We will not be cashing
this check. Then they will have our bank information.

what if you cashed the check they sent you?

I got a G&F Financial Group sweepstakes winnings letter and a SunAmerican Bank check #13855 for 4,980. from G&F Tronics, Inc.  in Jupiter Fl.  to pay the taxes on my "winnings" of 450,000.00  There is a Sun American bank, but its spelled wrong on the check - And why is it in the amount of 4,980, if the letter states that the tax amount is 3,990. us dollars? sounds scammy..

I got the same letter from Nancy and Steve from G & F Financial Group with a check for $4,998.00 for the Canadain tax on the $250.000.00 amarician dollars i won. Bogas, googled info on the check and letter, no where to be found

HI,

I received the same letter from G & F Financial Group 56 Imperial Street, Victoria, BC V3L Y4Z Canada.  Tel: November 1-778-885-4077.  It came with a Bank Check WELLS FARGO BANK N.A. in the amount of $4,998.00. The name on the check is R. S. EDEN  1931 W. Broadway, Suite 101. Minneapolis, MN 55411.  The check is dated November 21, 2008.  I am sure that this is a scam and everyone should send the letters and the checks to the FBI agent in your area so that they can investigate the matter.  This is also a US Mail Postal matter and should be reported to the Postmaster Generals Office in Washington DC as this constitutes mail fraud.

V.S.

I got the same thing. Check for $4,998.00 to pay the taxes on the $250K winnings. My brother works at Wells Fargo and I'm having him investigate it today. From all of the other postings it definately sounds bogus to me. I got a voicemail from my tax agent too, who had a VERY thick accent and said he was from Las Vegas claims center. Googling RS EDEN I found the company and the address matches the one on the check. Hopefully my brother at Wells can sort some of this out.

I just heard back from my brother and he said that the account is frozen which most likely means fraud. When I first got this I knew there was no way I would let this check touch my bank with a 30 foot pole and I'd recommend the same for anyone else who gets it. Like someone earlier said, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is

I received a letter today from C.C.B. Financial Services, Inc. my check was Wells Fargo Bank, NA for $4,620.00 based on $250,000.00 tax amount of $3,760.00. just from the envelope alone one can tell it's fraud. I'm not sure who to report it to. I hate to think about an older couple or anybody for that matter, fallen for this and losing everything before they realized it.

We just got the same letter and it looks to be some type of mail scam. They claim we won $250K and enclosed a check for $4,998.00. Even though the check looks real there are missing components. Try cashing and they have your account number and signature. We are going to turn it over to the District Attorney and Postal Service. Hopefully others will research before they try to cash! Beware!!

I received a check and a letter stating i won a swepstakes is this a scam

My elderly father got this same scenario....he is adament that is ligit!!  I knew differently...call to please him...the guy , Steve, laughed after I asked him if he was the guy giving away the money..he then hung up.  Pass the word...a scam...I'm in the process of reporting it to the Postoffice.

Received a check for $4300.00 for winnings of $350k.  It says to send the tax payment to MELINDA CULVERT 1604 AIRPORT RD. ST. JOHN, CANADA! GOVERNMENT SERVICE TAX.

I CALLED THE 877-316-2216 MICHAEL SMITH - (how common w/an accent)

The check was deposited today in my local bank - I'll let yall know what happens in 7 days!

I received a letter today from G&F Financial with a check for $4,998, with basically the same information everyone else has stated. I reported it on the FBI website and they called me within five minutes statin that it is a scam and to through both the letter and check away. Good luck if you cashed it. I am so glad I listened to my gut and looked it up on the internet and saw these messages and reported it.

Same thing here in Edison N.J.  Same letter, same amounts.  I'm sending mine onto the postmaster.  If you've cashed it, I hope they don't take advantage of the information they can collect from this type of transaction.  As it is, your life history is practically out there already.  Maybe it's time for "Life Lock", that personal identity theft prevention sevrice that's currently available.

If someone cashed it, I really wish you luck. The FBI agent said that you send them the $3,990 and then think you have money to spend yourself. What usually ends up happening he said is that you end up with a $5,000 overdraft. So, if you cashed it, please do not send them a check or spend any of it. Good luck.

HI,

No call but I received a letter from G & F Financial Group 56 Imperial Street, Victoria, BC V3L Y4Z Canada.  Tel: November 1-778-320-6577.  It came with a Bank Check Colonial Bank, N.A. in the amount of $4,980.00. The name on the check is HOGSKIN ENTERPRISES LLC. 66 Preston Road, Frisco, TX 75034.  The check is dated December 9, 2008.  After my initial investigation I feel sure that this is a scam and agree with others that everyone should send the letters and the checks to the FBI and US Postmaster General's Office so that they can investigate the matter as my opinion is that this constitutes mail fraud.

V.S.

No call but . . . Received a second "Final Notice" letter from G & F Financial Group today with a check drawn against a Spherion located in Indianapolis, Indiana.  After contacting a K. Wilson of Spherion, I was assured that they had no part of this and that they had initiated legal action against an accused perpetrator.  I was asked to fax a copy of the bogus check to them, which I did, and they suggested that I contact the local authorities and the Post Master regarding these fraudulent solicitations.  Apparently the way it works is that when you try to deposit the check you received into your bank account, a hold is placed on that account until the check clears.  In the meantime, you have mailed a check from your account to the solicitor to cover the taxes on your super good fortune, the winnings.  Now they cash your check, you are out whatever amount that might be and of course their check never does clear because it was drawn on a fictitious account to start with and you never see the promised $250,000.00 Grand Prize.  You not only get hooked for the check you write to pay the taxes but now the scammers have your real account number, your real bank and branch and your name to link up to it.

As the old expression goes, if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is, so BEWARE, there are allot of crooks out there that would rather steal your hard earned money than work for their own! ! !