877-477-4562

My mother received a call from 202-658-7246 and a David Mason claimed she had won a sweepstakes for $450k from Lifetime and he needed to deliver the check. She hung up and they called back claiming it was not a scam and the check was insured by Llyods of America and the check would be issued by Bank of America..She was given this 877-477-4562 to call back she was also given another number 801-823-2486..When calling these numbers you get a generic voicemail with an English accent.....obviously the 877# has been reported as being linked to websites that make unauthorized charges...

My mother received a phone call Landan Taylor claimed that she had won $350K and had to wire $3500.00 to Houston, Texas, so a check could be issued for the full amount. The phone # of Landan Taylor is 1-800-325-6000.
File #L798T466.

I got the call today from Landon Taylor of the "FTC" claiming he was verifying that I had chosen not to collect my $350K prize money.  I told him this was clearly a scam, but he said to call back to 877-477-4562 if I wanted to verify that he was with the FTC.  My caller ID said the call was coming from 202-747-4562.  He then gave me the phone number for Lifetime Sweepstakes of 801-823-2486 and my claim # to verify. I called the number and at first it went straight to a voice mail message.  I hung up and called again.  This time a woman answered, put me on hold and then I spoke with a gentleman who took my claim # and verified my address.  He then told me that I need to speak with Landon Taylor at the "FTC" to find out how to collect my prize.  

I did a quick Google search for the FTC and got the correct phone number of 877-382-4357.  They verified that this is a scam and that the FTC NEVER handles payments of prize money.  I filed a complaint, but realize that they will likely never follow up on any of the information I gave them.  Watch your back folks!

I was told the same information as above.  The guy Gary Hobbs even claimed to be a Federal Agent!  That is so wrong and something should be able to be done about this.

Report them as the FTC suggests:

FTC Consumer Alert

"I'm from the Government…": Latest Sweepstakes Scams Feature Con Artists Impersonating Government Officials

Some con artists use the lure of a sweepstakes to convince consumers to send in money to claim a “prize” they’ve supposedly won. They tell consumers that the only thing that separates them from their “winnings” is a fee to cover the taxes or service charges. But as all too many consumers know, the winnings as described never materialize.

In a new spin on the age-old sweepstakes scam, crooks are getting bolder, using names of government agencies and legitimate phone numbers that mask where they’re calling from. Claiming to represent “the national consumer protection agency,” the non-existent National Sweepstakes Bureau, and even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), they say that the delivery of the sweepstakes prize is being supervised by the supposed government agency. And they’re using Internet technology to make it appear that they’re calling from Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, or the consumer’s own area code.

These scammers then convince consumers to wire money to a foreign country — they usually suggest using a commercial money transfer company like Western Union to wire the money — to an agent of “Lloyd’s of London” or some other well-known insurance company to “insure” delivery of the “prize.” In fact, no insurance company is involved; con artists take the money and disappear.

According to the real Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. government’s chief consumer protection agency, consumers can keep from falling for the lure of the sweepstakes scam by taking a few precautions. For example, the FTC says:

Don’t pay to collect sweepstakes winnings. If you have to pay to collect your winnings, you haven’t won anything. Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay “insurance,” “taxes” or “shipping and handling charges” to collect your prize.

Hold on to your money. Scammers pressure people to wire money through commercial money transfer companies like Western Union because wiring money is the same as sending cash. If you discover you’ve been scammed, the money’s gone, and there’s very little chance of recovery. Likewise, resist any push to send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier. Con artists recommend these services so they can get to your money before you realize you’ve been cheated.

Look-alikes aren’t the real thing. It’s illegal for any promoter to lie about an affiliation with — or an endorsement by — a government agency or any other well-known organization. Disreputable companies sometimes use a variation of an official or nationally recognized name to try to confuse you and give you confidence in their offers. Insurance companies, including Lloyd’s, do not insure delivery of sweepstakes winnings.

Phone numbers can deceive. Some con artists use Internet technology to call you. It allows them to disguise their area code: although it may look like they’re calling from Washington, DC or your local area, they could be calling from anywhere in the world.

Take control of the calls you receive. If you want to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive, place your telephone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. To register online, visit www.donotcall.gov. To register by phone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) from the phone number you wish to register.

File a complaint with the FTC. If your number has been on the National Do Not Call registry for at least 31 days, and a telemarketer calls, file a complaint with the FTC. To file a complaint online, visit www.donotcall.gov. To file a complaint by phone, call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a representative of the government trying to arrange for you to collect supposed sweepstakes winnings, file a complaint at ftc.gov. It’s most helpful to enforcement officials if your complaints include the date and time of the call and the name or phone number of the organization that called you. Although scammers may call using a telephone number that disguises their location, law enforcers may be able to track that number to identify the caller.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt167.shtm

I received a call about a $350,000 sweepstakes win.  All taxes had been paid, but I would have to pay $3,500 bond which was refundable.  The
party - Lisa Stafford, stated she was from the Federal Trade Commission.
I suspected a scam.

FTC~ lifetime sweeps~ everythin is scam~ do not give them any info~ i even checked with FTC~ they do not do such things like that~ it is clearly scam~ after i found out i call them back and told them that I need e-mail from them about the sweepstake that i have won~ they told me that their system is down so they can only send through fax~ BS~~~~ they can not send e-mail b-cuz~ i would be able to tell that it is not government e-mail address~ if FTC send me a e-mail i would be able to see NAME@ftc.gov. so~ watch out~ they almost got me into this~
if they are claime that they are calling from GOV agency~ make sure they send you the e-mail b4 you give out any of your infomation~

On Feb 3 in late morning I also rec'd call from Gary Hobbs with badge #A8755 telling me to claim my $350,000 at 801-823-2486 in Salt Lake City with a claim #CK 25572.

This guy Gary Hobbs is one of the names he uses, its not his real name his real name is David Von Riesen he is only 24, he is not legal, and he is located in  Santa Ana Costa Rica, they have an office with 10 ilegal guys in Santa Ana, the owner of this scam company is call JP , but his real name is Joan Pool Navarrete Bellido ID# 111650931, he is costa rican, they hide his scam company from the Costa Rica government under the name of SOFTTECH PROGRAMING SOLUTIONS ADVISORS SOCIEDAD DE RESPONSABILIDA D LIMITADA  Company #3102551120, they always run from one place to another, renting houses, with a laptop n some phones, they have people in states to pick up the money by western union or moneygram, looking for old naive people to take their money. Costa Rica government cant do anything with them probably you guys can. Hope all the info helps to catch this scumbags

SOFTTECH PROGRAMING SOLUTIONS
This guy Gary Hobbs is one of the names he uses, its not his real name his real name is David Von Riesen he is only 24, he is not legal, and he is located in  Santa Ana Costa Rica, they have an office with 10 ilegal guys in Santa Ana, the owner of this scam company is call JP , but his real name is Joan Pool Navarrete Bellido ID# 111650931, he is costa rican, they hide his scam company from the Costa Rica government under the name of SOFTTECH PROGRAMING SOLUTIONS ADVISORS SOCIEDAD DE RESPONSABILIDA D LIMITADA  Company #3102551120, they always run from one place to another, renting houses, with a laptop n some phones, they have people in states to pick up the money by western union or moneygram, looking for old naive people to take their money. Costa Rica government cant do anything with them probably you guys can. Hope all the info helps to catch this scumbags

SOFTTECH PROGRAMING SOLUTIONS
This guy Gary Hobbs is one of the names he uses, its not his real name his real name is David Von Riesen he is only 24, he is not legal, and he is located in  Santa Ana Costa Rica, they have an office with 10 ilegal guys in Santa Ana, the owner of this scam company is call JP , but his real name is Joan Pool Navarrete Bellido ID# 111650931, he is costa rican, they hide his scam company from the Costa Rica government under the name of SOFTTECH PROGRAMING SOLUTIONS ADVISORS SOCIEDAD DE RESPONSABILIDA D LIMITADA  Company #3102551120, they always run from one place to another, renting houses, with a laptop n some phones, they have people in states to pick up the money by western union or moneygram, looking for old naive people to take their money. Costa Rica government cant do anything with them probably you guys can. Hope all the info helps to catch this scumbags

SOFTTECH PROGRAMING SOLUTIONS
This guy Gary Hobbs is one of the names he uses, its not his real name his real name is David Von Riesen he is only 24, he is not legal, and he is located in  Santa Ana Costa Rica, they have an office with 10 ilegal guys in Santa Ana, the owner of this scam company is call JP , but his real name is Joan Pool Navarrete Bellido ID# 111650931, he is costa rican, they hide his scam company from the Costa Rica government under the name of SOFTTECH PROGRAMING SOLUTIONS ADVISORS SOCIEDAD DE RESPONSABILIDA D LIMITADA  Company #3102551120, they always run from one place to another, renting houses, with a laptop n some phones, they have people in states to pick up the money by western union or moneygram, looking for old naive people to take their money. Costa Rica government cant do anything with them probably you guys can. Hope all the info helps to catch this scumbags

Somebody needs to do something, that can keep happening!!! They get you guys money to buy cars, use drugs get drunk pay hores, not fair, common guys!!!