I got the same sweepstakes call a while ago claiming I had won a 2nd place cash prize of $450,000. I was also told that they could help with financing the insurance. They said the prize was won through Cash Prize Payments Award Company with a phone number of (718) 285-8859. When I told him I wanted to research all of this first and call him back, he told me that he worked for the FCPA (whatever that is) and that I could contact him at (202) 370-7639. Sounded like a scam, smelled like a scam, looks like it was a scam. Glad I used due diligence to research this first. The sad thing is that he sounded so professional and ready to answer any questions that I had that I almost bought into it.

The same number as above 202-380-9014 called me and gave the exact speech. But then I had a new number out of Ohio, 1-330-439-1135, and say they were with the Sweepstakes Commission investigating fraud. When I gave them the other number and told them about this website they just hung up the phone. PLEASE don't give them any infor. FRAUD!!!

This number,202-380-9014,my Father has received a couple of calls from this number and it shows up as ACCATel, which I found out is an international phone service Company, "keeping people connected around the world."Here's a new twist for you~the man who called today, claimed he was with the Sweepstakes Fraud Commission and was collecting info on any possible fraudulent activites we may have experienced. My Father had recently been harrassed severely by the Jamaican Scammers and we had to change our number to private/unlisted. So---how did he get the number???
And what kind of deal is he trying to set up? He claimed he was going to look into this and make sure we are harrassed anymore. Well, we hadn't been since we changed numbers...My Dad received another call this morning saying he was the winner.....that's another story....is there no endddddd!!!!!!!!!!!

I got three calls 202 380-9014 202 407 7218 202 5090692 claiming i won 45000.00 2nd place in us sweepstakes he went so for as to tell me he got me a grant to help me pay the insurance to receive the money he told me he was a federal agent with SCC what a scam be alert

ITS A SCAM
THIS SCAM ALERT was posted on July 15th on Consumeraffairs.com
If you are not in TX - they have expanded to other states

Scammers Posing As FTC Officials Target Texans
Claim they are assisting sweepstakes company in locating "winners"


By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 15, 2009
Hucksters posing as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officials--and promising thousands of dollars in sweepstakes prizes--are now targeting Texas consumers.

Scam artists behind the scheme make initial contact with consumers by telephone and then send an official-seeming letter with instructions on how to claim the prize, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

The letter, which has a phony FTC logo, is designed to convince consumers that government officials are contacting them because a sweepstakes company holding their prize couldn't find them.

"An agent from the Federal Trade Commission will direct you in receiving your award and inform you of security issues that you should be aware of," the letter states. "US Sweepstakes and Fulfillment Co. has awarded you $450,000 for the second place award. As of June, 2009 they had sent out notice with no response which is the reason why our Agent Owen Sanders has taken charge and is your case manager. He will assist you in activating an insurance policy for delivery."

Consumers are instructed to immediately call a Washington, D.C. phone number to claim their prize.

"Calls to that phone number are re-directed to an unknown area, where the person on the other end of the phone then demands payment for insurance from the callers to collect their prize," Abbott said, adding consumer are told they won't receive their prize money until they pay for insurance. "In scams of this sort, the scammers' goal is to get the callers' "insurance money."

Abbot says this scheme has several red-flags, including:

? The FTC never collects money from consumers and its employees have no involvement with delivering sweepstakes prizes;

? In Texas, consumers do not need to buy anything in order to enter a sweepstakes;

? It is illegal in Texas for companies holding sweepstakes to charge fees.

Texans who receive a call from anyone claiming to be with the FTC or any government organization--and promising to arrange delivery of sweepstakes winnings--should contact Abbott's office at (800) 252-8011 or the FTC at (877) FTC-HELP.





Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2009/07/tx_ftc_scam.html#ixzz0PxefRyLJ

Caller claimed to be a representative with the Federal Trade Commission, stating recipient of call had won $450,000 through the American Sweepstakes.  Caller wanted 10% of the winnings paid for insurance purposes to deliver the winnings.  This is a scam.  The FTC does not contact consumers on behalf of any sweepstakes.  You should never have to pay any money up front if you've won a legitimate prize or sweepstakes.  If you receive a phone call from someone who claims to be with a sweepstakes, you should immediately be suspicious and assume the caller is a scammer.