I also got a check today. Looks very real. Drawn on Bank of America, with the issuer being "DSG Trust" out of Arizona. Amount of check is $4450.00, dated 09/02/2009. Contact agent's name is "Charles Brown". Too bad it's not real...could have used the money!!LOL
As to a photocopy of a check showing "VOID" - all checks do that, even real ones, this is to prevent someone from making copies of valid checks and trying to pass the copies off as real.
GOT CALL, TOLD TALKER I,M NOT BUYIN THIS THEY HUNG UP....NOW I GET LETTER SIMILAR TO OTHERS,FOUND THIS WEBSITE...AMOUNT IS ABOUT SAME 4450.55 FOR CLEARANCE FEE, THEN SAME CRAP...SAIS MSR PROMOTIONS FROM DARLINGTON ,ENGLAND-SAIS TEIR WORKING WITH HOME DEPOT,WALGREENS,SEARS,SAFEWAY,I AM IN WESTERN NY,IN MY 50,S..THE GUY ON PHONE SOUNDED LIKE MARBLES IN MOUTH..THE NO. THEY GAVE IS 778-882-1525 A MR TEDDY JACOBS-CLAIMS AGENT..I THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTE BALONEY..I WILL CHECK FURTHER..HOPE OTHERS CAN PITCH IN INFO, HAD ME GOIN A LITTLE TILL I FOUD THIS WEBSITE..I THANK EVERYONE FOR EXPOSING THESE SCOUNDRELS,HOPE THIS INFO HELPS OTHERS,ONE MORE THING ,CALLER SAID FROM FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION& THAT PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE HAD GIVEN THEM OVERIGHT OF WINNINGS, CALL WAS ON BLACK FRI...I THINK GOV. OFFICES MAY HAVE BEEN OFF THAT DAY. WOW,WHAT A DETAILED SCAM..
This is a version of fake-check-for-Western-Union-money scam. The check they send you is fake but it takes a few days after depositing it to find out it's fake. The scammer will want you to wire money back to him to pay fees or taxes or something and the money you wire them via Western Union (Moneygram, etc.) is your own real money, the wiring process only takes short hours and the money irretrievable. Owing to the difference in processing times, the scammers will have your real money in hand before your bank learns their check is bad. You'll lose the money you send them and may be prosecuted for passing a bad check. You are effectively acting in the capacity of a bank for the scammer in exchanging your own money for his bad check. It's a scam. Take the check to the police and file a complaint with the US Postal Service Inspectors https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx