Imperial Random Draws, supposedly a company based in the United Kingdom, sent me a fraudulent check in the amount of $2, 996.80. The check was enclosed with a letter stating that I had won $55, 000.00 in the National Lottery held in London, Ontario.
The check showed that the drawer was Washington Mutual Bank, which I knew to be a reputable bank, but I later found out that the check itself was fraudulent and completely worthless! I had been deceived and lead to believe that I had won $55, 000.00, when in reality, I had won nothing.
When I called the number that was given on the letter to claim my prize, a woman answered and asked me for the reference number on the letter itself. When I gave her the number, she told me I had won in the third category of the lottery drawing. I was instructed by her to deposit the check that Imperial Random Draws had sent me, then I was to call the number back two days later after the "check had cleared" and the rest of my winnings were to be sent to me via UPS.
The woman told me that they check for $2, 996.80 was for taxes and international clearance fees, and in order for me to collect the rest of my winnings ($55, 000.00), I was to deposit the check into my bank account. The letter also stated that out of the $55, 000.00 I had supposedly won, there was a $5, 000.00 commission fee that had to be paid to the sponser of the drawing.
The check that Imperial Random Draws sent me looked legitimate and I have to say, had me fooled until I did some further investigation. I want to warn others of this dishonest company and its illegal use of lottery winnings as a scam to trick people into thinking that they won a lump sum of money. Watch out for this supposed corporation and its illegitimate and unlawful ways of operation!
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