got same letter today but the check is from arizona business bank. jerks. i spoke to a guy jeff.

The one we got is signed by RG Mugabe... the President of Zimbabwe!!

i got the same letter in the mail with a claim agent MR MARK NELSON 1-416-827-5265 but they didnt get me i let the fraud department at my bank check it out. when i went to the bank i let them look at it then called the guy and act like i out it into my account and called the agent back and told him they put a two week hold on it. lets just say the guy got mad and told me to call him back when the check cleared at my bank and that he would tell me what to do after that NOT im not that crazy

I received same letter today. My check's bank was Silicon Valley Bank from a company called Relypsa, Inc. and the Claim Agent was Mark Nelson (416-827-5265). I am so glad I researched!

My check came from Sovereign bank. I am going to take my check to the fraud department at the police station.

received phone call and check for $3875....its a scam so not cashed

I received a check of  $3875.00 and then I have to take 1, 875.00 and pay it directly to a tax agent. Then it says do not attempt to use the check until I call, of which I couldn't get through. On this check the bank's name is Associated Bank Minnesota, Plymouth, MN--Company's name on this particular check is Rainbow Inc., 7324 36th Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55427, So I am not sure, but I'm think this is also a scam! If you know anything anyone please let me know!

hi wow this check was someting that everyone can use even myself i did not do nothing with this check thank god these people that are sending these checks are getting money from other people its so sad what this world has come to please if u get this check please check it out

Just received a letter with a check for 3,875.00.  I called the number and Mark Nelson told me to deposit the check.  Once I deposited the check to call him back for the address of the Government address to send a check for 1,875.00 for taxes on the winnings.  So I spoke to my husband about it and he said to open a new account then once it clears to get a cashier's check to send.  So decided to do some research on this and found this site.  I am very glad I didnt go through with this.  What people will do to scam others out of there hard working money.  Please do something to stop these people from scamming others.  It seems to me that this is happening to a lot of people.  Just be cautious people.

Karma is the ultimate !

MY HUSBAND RECIEVED THIS CHECK TODAY AND JUST I WAS VERY EXCITED AS WELL,SO I CALLED THE NUMBER SMILING AS I DIALED THE CHECK LOOKS REAL BUT WAS STILL CURIOUS ABOUT IT THE GUY HAD A STRANGE ACCENT AND MY HUSBAND KEPT ASKING HIM WAS THIS CHECK REAL THE GUY REPLIED YES AND THAT HE CAN TAKE THE CHECK  TO THE BANK AND GET IT VERIFIED AND TAKE THE LETTER ALONG WITH HIM AND SEND 1,875 ONCE THE CHECK WAS DEPOSITED HE WAS TO CALL THEM AND THAT THEY WOULD SEND A ADDRESS AS TO WHERE TO SEND THE CHECK TO THAT'S WHEN THE FLAG WENT UP SO SAD IT'S PPL OUT THERE THAT DOES THAT CAN ONLY IMAGINE ALL THE POOR ELDERLY PEOPLE THEY SCAMMED SO GLAD WE ALL FOUND OUT ALOT OF PEOPLE WAS'NT AS LUCKY AS US THEY GOT SCAMMED....

Hi, I received the same check for the same amount ans was told the same thing, but being the smart per that I am, I called the bank it was drawn on and the bank told me it was not coming up in their system, so they told me to call the person that send the check to see why, so I did and got a number that was disconnected. So, yes it is a lot of scammers going around. Believe it!. They wont' get any of my hard eran money!. Thanks for your note.

We received a check also .  Our agent is Mr. Mark Nelson.  Check written on JP Morgan account with Nova Tube Indiana II.  Should have known it was too good to be true.  Will take to our bank tomorrow and ask if there is anything we can do to report.

I also received a check drawn from Chase JPMorgan in the amount of $3875.00. I called the number provided and it sounded like someone from INDIA answered. But, me on hold for about 10 minutes. So, I eventually hung up went to my computer and VOILA! Scam. Some people have nothing better else to do but to sit around and try to scam people! So, sad!

M T Bank or (empty)-bank !!!!  We got the same letter ! Bummer. Total Scam !  Wish I could find a way to just cash it ! Wheresa the nearest branch of M.&T. Bank !

My husband also got this check & was all excited. I told him let me check it out because this is most
likely a SCAM & although we need the money we do not need the aggravation of a false check.
I'm glad I googled the # because did not get a hit otherwise. It shows Meridian Prize & award presentation 37 King St W Toronto ON M5C 1E9 Canada, the ck looks weird because its from M&T Bank "Harris Assemble Group" in Binghamton, NY

I got it also, except the phone number is 1-416-820-3727 (claim agent George Nelson), and the address is 37 King St., W. Toronto ON M5C 1E9. The letter is signed DOUGLAS  R STRIEF?. The check is issued via M&T BANK  by HARRIS ASSEMBLY GROUP , 187 INDUSTRIAL PARK DR., BINGHAMTON, NY 13904.
THE CHECK IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3875.00
Not planning on calling the number.
Thanks to everyone who posted.

me llego la carta y me emocione pero llame a George Nelson y el sr.muy cortante y molesto me cuelga no me quiso dar detalles entonces lo investigue por el internet y fue cuando me di cuenta que era fraude, hay que parar con estos fraudes ya.

got the letter meridian (george nelson) i cussed his a** out im not stupid old sayin goes if its too good to be true it prob is this ck was from bbva compass in al

i got the same letter and check today. i wonder what would happen if i deposited the check and did NOT call them first?????? would i then be scamming them :)

I also recieved the notorious shoppers sweepstake lottery winner letter in witch i was one in 24 to win. I called George nelson and he said to deposit the check into my checking account and then call when it clears.......... well I 'm going to send him that check on plain white construction paper wrote in red crayon....  I Hate this kind of CRAP!

I got the same letter, and a check with a Best Buy logo.  Anyone who receives this scam letter and a check should report it to the Postal Service here:

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx

This is fraud and they shouldn't get away with it.

I just got the George Nelson letter from Meridian and they almost got me! It sure looks like it could be real - it has Best Buy logo on the check for 3,875....thanks to all who replied here.

I got it also, except the phone number is 1-416-831-6779 (claim agent George Nelson), and the address is 37 King St., W. Toronto ON M5C 1E9. The letter is signed Brian McFarlen. The check is issued via Bank of America in San Antonio by Royal Insurance Agency INC of Austin, Texas.

Other than that, it's the same pitch, but here's the best part: the check was signed and authorized by "Leia Organa Solo!" May the fraud be with you!

scam

Received the same letter except the check is from Citibank in New Castle DE. There is a Citibank location in New Castle so it's probably a legit check...but yes, you must call them prior to depositing the check so that's where they get you! Glad I found this tip...and can throw it in the trash with confidence that it is indeed 'too good to be true'!

Recieved a check from Brendan McCloud from Big Rapid Products and a letter from Star Life Financial notifying that I was a prize winner in SHOPPERS SWEEPSTAKE LOTTERY. The amount of the check was $3,875.00 drawn on CHEMICAL BANK, BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.  The address of the company Big Rapids Products listed on the check is 1313 Maple Street, BID (yes, thats right!), BID RAPIDS, MI 49307.   ---- totally bogus.  Other comments state that they want you to pay $1,835.00 first for taxes.  Really?  Bogus....

I received same type of check yesterday and called.  The man I talked to got angry with me when I wanted details. Used Sun Life Financial letterhead and sent official check from citibank.

I received one of the letters too, Ive never entered a lottery on line -it list an international phone no in the united Kingdom and local canadian no. It list sunlife fianancial - I called sun life and they have no idea any such thing existed. Please this is a typical 419 scheme.

IT is Aug 30, 2011 and I too just got the same type of Letter. We have NOT called them.  Who can I take this letter and check to?  The Attorney General?  First off, we NEVER entered any lottery online or otherwise,  Our $3,875.00 check seems to be drawn from THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A. Syracuse, NY.  The letter claims to say we were one of 24 winners of $3 Million US Dollars.
In this day and age, getting a huge check in the mail like this is TEMPTING.,  we've seen similar notices come through our email that we've won some sort of lottery or our foreign relative just died, etc.
Where should I take this letter to have it investigated so it doesn't Rope Other unsuspected people in and cause them harm?