10 On Your Side Check Scam Warning
November 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pm by Kelly Welsh under 10 On Your Side
10 On Your Side Investigation
Fake Check Cashing Scam
10 On Your Side has warning for you that may save you thousands of dollars. Fake lottery checks are making there way into mail boxes all over Hampton Roads. The claims of winning thousands or millions of dollars may sound very enticing, but be careful. Things aren’t always as they seem.
Please check out my latest Web Report/ Don’t be so quick to cash that check
Please let me know what you think. I’ll be sure to let you know when my next report is posted.
Thanks,
Kelly Welsh
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Yesterday I had just received one in the mail….I received a letter from P.O. Box/CP 6529, STN/SUCC D, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B1. Upon opening the mail, I found a check for $1, 987.00 made payable to me. The check was drawn off a company check from Catalyst (a division of Duro LLC) out of Florence, Kentucky, 41042. The banking institution is Fifth Third Bank of Southern Ohio (Hillsboro, OH).
The letter stated that they were pleased to inform me of the release of the Annual Integrated Awards that was held on 11/14/08 and after a computerized drawing process and detailed analysis that i have came out as one of the names accorded a winner status in the 3rd category with a lump sum payout of $28,987.00. The enclosed check for $1,987.00 is paid to me for taxes and fees. Leaving a net balance of $27,000. The check is to be used for the payment of administrative fees and or taxes on my prize money. A claim agent will assist me in the process to facilitate the release of my funds to me as soon as i contact them. I was instructed to call 1-613-366-6001. The letter was on letterhead (computerized) from Horizon Financial Group, P.O. Box 7823, Kingston, 13501, tel. 1-613-366-6001, fax 1-440-388-6001 and several other fax numbers with other area codes.
I know that there were several red flags already flown by the time I called the “claims dept.”. The first three (3) phone calls I couldn’t get through, it kept telling me the mail box was full and on the fourth (4) call, they didn’t even answer the phone Horizon Financial, and I had to ask. I told the person why I was calling; thankfully I didn’t give my name. He simply said give us a call back when the check clears. I asked what happens after that, he said that they look up information on the nearest tax place is to my state and mail the money then. I asked him how do I know that this is legitimate. He said would the check clear if it wasn’t? According to the letter the “agent” was suppose to ask me for my reference number and batch number that is on the letter. The letter is signed (computerized) by a Todd Sloane, Senior Vice President. The letter also tells me that the prize money must be claimed by December 12, 2008.
I have looked on numerous websites and cannot find this scam anywhere (i know new ones come out every day). I have goggled horizon financial group and didn’t locate one with the correct information. The bank does exist but have checked the fraud alerts and didn’t see an alert for their Hillsboro (checks stolen). According to one website there have been checks stolen from the Fifth Third Bank (alerts were sent back in 2006) but did not list the Hillsboro location and the routing numbers did not match.
I have seen many scams, one where I have to mail the check back for processing fee, checks that actually said not a real check,pay money to win money and have even won the “Irish Lottery” on numerous occasions but I have never received an actual check, one that I could cash. Well maybe, the check is a bit off the written out dollar amount doesn’t match the dollar amount (off by $10.00) now I am mad.
please someone respond back so I know that you got this information…thank you!