I learned the hard way since I never had anything like this happen to me before. They (Public Relations) sent me a check from the Cocoa Coloa Company in the amount of $3800 saying I was one of the winners of the just concluded Consumer Prize Award 2007 and also won a cruise for two to the Bahamas on the Imeperial Majesty Cruise line flagship, the MV REGAL EMPRESS. I called the number and found out they wanted me to pay them $1200 after the check deposited since I would have to pay the taxes from Texas. Four days later the check cleared and I spent a little of it without any problems. I called back since the man on the phone wanted me to. The same person answered the phone and told me to send $2700 in cash through Western Union to Brooklyn, New York. He gave me the full address including the zip code of the person I would be sending the money to and her first and last name. I was foolish enough to do so but instead of paying in cash at a Western Union located near me like I was asked to I decided to send the money online through their website. After sending the money Western Union wanted me to call them so they can get more information about me. When I called and they learned that I was sending money to pay for taxes and an entrance fee Western Union told me that I wasn't suppose to pay taxes through the company. They said they'd refund the money I sent and two days later I called the bank to check on my account and found out that the check was a counterfiet. The good news is that I only lost what I spent. Seeing how I have the full name of the person I was suppose to send the money to and her address (it's not a PO box address.) You would think someone I complained to would get back to me sooner. Now I have a woman calling my cell saying I have been granted grant money from the government in the amount of $3100. I thought it was real at first but I remembered that I didn't fill out an application for a grant online like she had said. She asked me if I had a checking account and if I was an american citizen over the age of 18. That's when I began to have my doubts. When I told her I did she told me I had to pay $350 for service fees before they sent the money. I told her about the scam I went through the first time and that I didn't have money to waste. She asked me when would I have the money and I told her I didn't know. Now I have this number (251) 639-7500 calling me three times a day. I checked the number on this website and found out it was a scame also. If she keeps on calling me like some bill collector I have a feeling I'm going to snap on this lady.
The number (251)639-7500 actually belongs to SouthEast Toyota Finance. The number I meant to put at the end of the paragraph is actually (425)963-7342. Sorry for the mix up. I'm just going crazy since it feels like the walls are closing in on me.