So I recieve a letter in the mail today telling me that I won a sweepstakes. With the letter is a check for $3885. So obviously I was skeptic. The letter told me to call a telephone number to authorize it. This is where I expected the scam to come in. So I call, and the first few times was busy. Finally a man picked up and I told him about the letter. He asked for my first and last name, and I gave it to him. He says congratulations, and he tells me to just deposit the check and call them when it clears. This surprised me. I was ready for them to ask for a credit card number or my SSN, but nope, they said just to deposit it.

As for the check itself, it is legit. Watermark, check number, everything.

I called my dad, who said that no one would give me free money, and that he would call them himself to find out about it. He thinks it's a loan scam, but looking up loan scams, that always involves more information being transferred, papers to sign, and usually only western union banks will do it. This has none of it.

So now I am researching the company. They are called Taunton Direct. As I googled them, I found their website. http://www.taunton.com/ It has the same logo and everything. If you go on the website, you can see that they are a very legit company, and they even have a thing about sweepstakes if you google taunton sweepstakes.

So I'm sort of at a loss. I'm not one to be fooled by scams, as I'm too much of a skeptic, but I just don't see anyway that this could be a scam. I gave them no information other then my name, and signed nothing other then the check. How is it that this could come to bite me in the ass?

Did you actually join a sweepstakes at some time or another in recent memory?

Throw it out, the instant you endorse it you've signed up for something. I get those $10 ones in the mail all the time, and if you endorse them you've signed up for some book club that they charge you a monthly fee on or a ridiculously high interest credit card.

If you never signed up for a sweepstakes it's a scam.

But maybe ask about it at the bank, I'm pretty sure they'd tell you if by depositing the check you'd be signing up for something.

Scam.

Sounds like a scam.

Also what the fuck at SEP being nice.

call the bank the check is written on. they will tell you if it is legit or not.

The rule is: If it seems like a scam, it is a scam.

lol, total scam. sweepstakes are required by law to present an affidavit for any prize over $600 before giving you your prize. it's a fake check. they want you to call when it clears because they're going to hit you up for a processing fee of some sort. checks are required to be made available to you within 5 days, so what they do is delay the reporting of a bad check until that time has passed and you get your funds, then they'll hit it as NSF or whatever, and the bank will pull back the funds from your account. their hope is that in-between you getting your money and the bank taking it back, that you send them their fee.

you're on the internet, dude. look this shit up. sweepstakes scams happen every single day.

Where are your parents on this shit, all of the shit here for that matter, Batman? Why don't you go to them with this stuff?

Did they get raptured early or something?

I don't understand that at all...the company told him to deposit it, so he never needs to call them again, so when would they get him to pay a processing fee? Does the bank tell him to call or something before it can really be fully deposited? And the company can delay the reporting of a bad check? Also, wouldn't he be able to spend the 3k before the bank takes it back if he has five days?

I'm guessing I just really don't 100% follow your explanation...

shut the fuck up zebrahead, every post of yours is a lame fucking image macro or some LOL PWNED internet shit

It's a fraudulent check. Ask your bank.

Yeah, I really didn't figure it was anything, but I'd hate to ever pass up 3 grand, haha.

Wow you're a pissy bitch tonight. Damn I'm good.

Cash it, then make an epic topic about it ruining your life.

TOTALLY MEANT TO PISS PEOPLE OFF GUYS, IM NOT ACTUALLY THIS BAD OF A POSTER LOL

everyone knows you are gay and killed your wife
probably in your freezer now

This morning I called the actual Taunton company themselves, and asked about the check. They said that it's a fraud, and that someone has been sending out a bunch of these. So I'm glad to hear that it's fake, just so I know for certain.

If I were you I would watch out for your phone bill now. I don't know how it works over there but the scams here usually are on a premium rate line and seriously cost if you call them.

Well put.