Sweepstakes mailing could be a scam

By JON DAWSON
Staff Writer

If you receive a check for $5,000 from Publishers Clearinghouse, chances are someone is trying to dupe you.
Beverly Baskin, president of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina, has issued a warning in regards to this mailing. The warning states that "winners" are asked to wire the company money to obtain their winnings.
In the case of the phony sweepstakes, you will receive what looks like a real check "to cover the taxes on your winnings". You will be instructed to deposit the money into your checking account, and then wire that same amount back to the company to receive your winnings.
"When people deposit these checks it gives them a false sense of security. These fake checks look very official and not all banks are able to catch them at the point of deposit," Baskin said. "We advise consumers to wait three weeks to make sure the check clears before wiring any money."
"Even if you did enter the legitimate sweepstakes and won, you wouldn't just receive a check in the mail," Baskin said. "You would receive official contact from the company, and you certainly wouldn't have to pay out any money to receive your winnings."
The BBB also lists fake charitable organizations as a scam that always surface after natural disasters. As we enter another hurricane season, the BBB warns that scammers will be setting up phony charities in order to prey on the public's giving nature.
At www.give.org a list of BBB approved charities is available for viewing. For accurate information on sweepstakes and charities, visit www.bbb.org.

BBB Consumer alerts for July 2008

You'veBeenLeftBehind.com - this website attempts to collect personal information such as bank account numbers so that the consumer might have "one last opportunity to reach your lost family and friends."
Barnes Medical - Since January, the BBB has received complaints regarding the company making unauthorized withdrawals and an inability to obtain a refund.
VIL Mall - this site offers "110% guaranteed lowest prices" on electronics and computers. The company lists Lubbock, TX as its business address but their billing seems to be done from Italy or Spain. The BBB advises extreme caution.
CDN Financial, TD Financial and P & A Financial - the BBB states that any sweepstakes winnings you receive from these companies are counterfeit.