Glad I found this site as I also got a check in the mail with the same letter saying I had won 500,000 dollars. I almost fell for the check as I had a death in the family and was waiting to hear back on his life insurance, and the check they cut me was from an insurance company. Total fraud.

Continuously calls and leaves no message.

One more for the list.  Only my wife's winnings were for $500,000!  Woo Hoo.  I called the phone number (1-778-321-7627) and a person with a Pakastani or Indian accent answered and said David Washington wasn't in the office.  I asked what company this was, and he said, "Reader's Digest."  

I wonder how the check thing works.  The bank is "Chase" where we have an account.  I wonder if they use the attempted deposit to back-access the account somehow.  Otherwise, what do they get out of it?  The letter said the check, $4,980.10, was to "aid you in the mandatory payment of your insurance and administrative fees..."

The envelope was postmarked "Seattle, WA 980" with a return address of 4746 Richert Ave, Fresno, CA 93722  I Google mapped the location, then went to "Street View" and it shows a house in a residential tract with two cars in the driveway.   Thieves or victims living there, I guess.

Then I searched for the company issuing the check.  Apparently the scammers changed the name of a legit insurance company from Affirmative to Affirmation.  There is no Affirmation Insurance Company listed in Google.

What a stupid bunch of misdirection.  And, for what?

hi receieved a letter from reader's digest   i saw a posted letter and saw a number to call should i call mrs.virginia please let me know

I got this "neat check" from The Guardian Life Insurance of America, Fleet Bank, 150 Windsor St., Hartford, Ct.I knew I never win anything, especially if I dont enter the contests.Thes people need to be drawn and quartered.Glad to find all these letters.

I received the same thing in the mail. I am glad that I looked up this site. It was check that was from Southeast workers compensation claim center for 4,980.00 and the bank was from Columbus, Ohio and no address. I had a feeling that it was a scam, but was not sure.

i got a letter today from readers digest and i also received a letter and check from southeast workers compensation claim center of 4,970.15 and i did she the difference of the signatures!!!

I to received this letter and check. Visions of sugar plums dancing were dismissed instantly... Thanks to all the folks that take the time to post!

Thanks! It sounded too good!

I too got this same letter, only difference.. the header on the check was from Southeast Workers Compensation claim Center... As an insurance agent, I knew this was bogus.. The routing number on the checks, I bet are the same.. Also, the letter came from Seattle WA.

I just received the exact same thing. Only difference is the check number is slightly different! Glad to have found this website!

THANKS TO ALL WHO'VE POSTED HERE! Nice to know we are in such good company (just kidding!)

My husband also received a letter and a check in the amount $4,980.00, similar details, $145,000 grand prize, call Virginia Peters at 778-320-3577. Nationwide Ins  Bank One, JP Morgan Chase, Dearborn, Mich. etc. Also signed by John J. something, but underneath name appears as David Washington. Letterhead is imprinted with official looking Reader's Digest logo, and logos are spread across page footer: BBB, Walmart, Sears, Kmart, Target, Home Depot, Zellars (we don't have that locally but I assume it is a well-known store) and Macy's. There was also a larger, gray-scale RD logo in the background of the letter's text.

We plan to copy ours to our state attorney general (Minnesota). Good luck everybody! "If it sounds too good...."

I received this letter from Reader's Digest signed by David Washington with a check from Bank One in Dearborn Michigan for $4,980.00. I knew it was a scam right away. I called Reader's Digest and plan on calling Bank One and Nationwide Ins. also. I'll do anything to see these people go down.

I received a letter as well, indicating that i won 145k as well as a check for $4,980 ck. number
99121655. vendor # as5329620001. customer care rep. michael fur.

check was on chase manhattan bank n. a. from cigna

connecticut general life ins. company as agent for archdioces of baltimore

I received a letter indicating I won 145K as well as a check for 4980.70 - I called JP Morgan Chase Bank
to verify the check because the check look real - the check actually have Nationwide Mutual account number on the check however the check number was out of sequence from what it should be / then called Nationwide Ins. - they confirm the check is fraud and they will not issue a check unless you are a client of theirs or been in an accident with one of their clients -- but RD is not a customer and the policy number on the check was bogas -- BE CAREFUL because the letter and check look so legit

I JUST TALKED TO VERONICA MILLER, READER'S DIGEST AND MY BANK!

BE WARNED ... THIS IS DEFINITELY A SCAM!

I too received a check in the mail today and it does look real. However, has anyone noticed the signature on the letter? The letter is supposedly signed by a "David Washington" but the signature is definitely a John J. (last name not readable). It's a shame that we live in a society where people have to scam us to make a buck instead of getting a real job!

i just recieved a check in the mail for $4975.90, it said with the letter saying the check is in aide to taxes towards my grand prize winning of 250000.00. i tried calling the numbers on the letter but no response or machine. it looks like a real check, also has the cigna embloim on it.

I GUESS THEIR BACK FOR MORE. AS TO YOUR LAST DATE OF 9 OCT 2008 THIS LETTER WITH DATE OF APRIL 29 2010.I'M TURNING MY LETTER OVER TO THE BETTER BUSINESS OFFICE. I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT OUR FEDERAL/GOVERNMENT/STATE WORKERS START DOING THE JOBS THAT THEY GET PAID FOR BY US THE TAX PAYER..... I'M SO TRIED OF THESE PEOPLE SITTING ON THEIR BACK SIDES DOING NOTHING, AND THEN CRYING FOR MORE MONEY.. MAYBE WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD JUST STOP ALL THE MONEY UNTIL THEY DO THEIR JOBS.  THIS TYPE OF MAIL  SCAM SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN YRS. AGO.

please take to Police Department, let them find Scammers.

I got a letter in the mail for sweepstakes I did not enter.  They sent a check stating this was a cut of my $250,000 winnings and it would cover the taxes.  It was for $4450.  It also said to call 778-320-3577 before taking it to the bank.  The check did appear real.  But as Momma always said "if it seems to good to be true, it probably is." I didn't call the number since it was long distance.