By the way, if it's not already obvious, the first comment is from the scammer(s).
A search for this number will bring up similar 800notes listings and many of them have comments supporting the scam stating it is real. Do not believe it. Nobody suddenly wins an international lottery they were never even told about. Please use common sense.
Short Version:
This is an extremely obvious 419 (advance fee fraud) scam letter. The included check is a fake. Do not respond to this. Report it to the authorities.
Long Version:
I came home to find my family all excited about receiving a check for $3,875.00, but fortunately, they wanted me to confirm that it was the real thing. It was obviously not.
The letter itself comes with the symbol of TD Bank (a symbol that looks like it was poorly printed on). Actually reading the letter, though, it has a letterhead at the top proclaiming it is from 'Waterhouse Financial Services in conjunction with Aires Pharmaceuticals Inc'. Then within the letter, it talks about you winning the 'International Shoppers Lotto Powerball' for 'Mega Jackpot'. Then at the end, it lists the sponsors as being Wal-Mart, HSBC, AMEX, and many others.
See what it's doing? It's basically listing off a series of famous corporations and lotteries in attempt to make you think this is the real deal.
Along with the letter is an included (fake) check. At the end of the letter, it states that the purpose of the check is to provide me with the means to pay the necessary taxes, which is $1,875. 1.5% taxes on $125K? How nice. And it'll probably be really nice when my bank realizes the check is a fake and decides to put you on the hook for it, eh?
Admittedly, I'm a bit intrigued to see a snail mail 419 scam. I'm more familiar with the email version. I'm also nervous as to how exactly the scammer got my home address. This has me worried that my family has been doing some online surveys or some other 'SIGN UP FOR FREE LOTTERY' nonsense and giving out the information to unscrupulous types.
By the way, if it's not already obvious, the first comment is from the scammer(s).
A search for this number will bring up similar 800notes listings and many of them have comments supporting the scam stating it is real. Do not believe it. Nobody suddenly wins an international lottery they were never even told about. Please use common sense.