877-859-7856

The caller said that I won 500k and I needed to send them some money in order to receive what I had won.

Contest Winnings Phone Scam

I received a phone call advising me that I had won $500,000 (2nd prize) in a contest (Consumer Clearing House) that I had entered, and that the money will be delivered by a courier called “Global Security Express” on Thursday.

They asked me a series of 9 questions, claiming this was needed for the IRS as follows:
1. My Age
2. My Address
3. My Phone number
4. Do I have proof of identification (Driver's license)
5. Am I Married or single
6. Am I employed, self employed, or unemployed?
7. Do I own a Visa, MC, Amex, or Discover Card?
8. Do I own or Rent?
9. How much money do I have in my bank accounts (several ranges were provided)?

After that, they transferred me to “David Bauman” of “Bauman and Associates”, a Tax Attorney in "New York, who would give me the details on how to claim my winnings.
Mr. Bauman advised me that I would need to pay "Taxes in Advance", because this is an International Sweepstakes. The amount due was $65,500 (a reduced tax rate amount).
He went on to say that HSBC Bank would pay the $65,500 up front for me and that I could pay them back after I received my $500,000 check, but HSBC Bank needed a 10% Good Faith deposit of $6,550.
He also offered me an option where he could get me a government loan to cover $5,000, so all I had to come up with was $1,550. He advised me to wire the money to "Richard Wood" in "Mali, Philippines" (this city does not exist).
He finally advised me of a "Non-Disclosure Agreement" and threatened me if I said anything to anyone I could end up permanently disabled, as happened to a man in Alabama who violated this agreement.

Please be warned to have someone waiting with you on the day and time of the check delivery, and DO NOT open the door.  

The names “Bauman and Associates” and “Global Security Express” have been associated with other similar scams (found via Google).  Please warn clients, colleagues, and friends about this scam, and remind them that true winnings will NEVER require payment of taxes, fees, etc. before receipt of the winnings. If someone wins money in a legitimate contest, they will receive an official 1099 form after they have received their winnings.  They will then have until April to pay the taxes on the winnings.  They pay those taxes to the federal government – NOT to the individual or company that ran the contest.

On a related note, fake checks can be made to look VERY real.  A scam artist may give you your “winnings” in the form of a check and ask you to pay the taxes before your bank has had enough time to see if the check is counterfeit.  When the bank realizes the check is fake, you have already paid the scam artist and lost money on the transaction (and possibly personal information – like your bank routing number, in the process).  

Finally, it is important to note that entering contests has become a rather dangerous activity.  Many contests are simply ‘fronts’ for scams or solicitors, and by entering the contest, you are giving them permission to contact you.  I strongly advise everyone to avoid entering contests, in general.

P.S. Mr. David Bauman said he can be reached at 1-877-859-7856.

Additional Scams and Phone Numbers:

Mr. Meyers
Mega Blocks Sweepstakes
You won $5 Million Dollars and a New Mercedes
1-876-486-0549


Winners International
You won $1.5 Million from Las Vegas, NV
1-876-884-7077
Send money to Mr. Marlon Campbell, Jamaica, WI
Call Federal Express at 1-876-884-7077, ask for John Rollins

Mr. Don Blake from Federal Express
Has a package to deliver
1-876-884-7077

Mr. Kirk Riley
UPS Delivery Service
No phone number provided, caller was obscene

Mr. Graham Jones
Prime Savings
Regarding Medical Benefits purchased last year
Caller hung up when asked for a return number

Mr. Omar Jones
Goldrush International delivery department
1-876-850-8084

Mr. Ben Thomas
Federal Express
1-876-895-4223

Another List of Scams, Names, and Numbers:
Mr. Ben Chalis? (name was hard to understand)
Mega Buck Sweepstakes Company
1-876-884-7077

Mr. Alex Stewart
Federal Regional Bank
1-876-450-4607

Commissioner Greg Tucker
Global Lotteries and Sweepstakes Commission
1-480-639-4417

Mr. Peter White
MegaBucks
1-876-820-4356

Received a call saying I won 2 place in an international sweepstakes, $500k! Asked me 9 questions then transferred me to an international tax attorney, James Faulkner. He said my winnings were in Buffalo NY at customs and I needed to pay 10% of the income tax of $65,000.00 before I received my winnings but..........she was able to secure monies to pay all but $2000.00 of that amount. She asked how I would like to pay the $2000.00 today! She stated it must be paid before they would send out my cashiers check, that the bank would make my winnings available immediately, because it was a cashiers check! I said no, I couldn't do that and they hung up.