Son received a letter from Kingsway Financial of 29 Flecher Dr, Niagara Falls, On H6N 4T1, reference #129302, Consumers Lottery, Claim Number: GGR-9267500, dated October 27, 2008. They claim to have tried to reach him by phone on October 8, 2008. They sent him a check for $3,900 drawn on Peoples Bank of Connecticut that he was supposed to deposit in his bank account, then call Edward Jones or Nicole Jordan at 1-905-781-2317 for assistance in finalizing the claim. They caution "For security reasons, we advise that you keep this award from public notice until your claims have been finalized. This will help us prevent fraud and double claims".
First, they spelled Niagra wrong in the return address, and Connecticut wrong ON THE CHECK. Then they use an eye-catching name like Edward Jones to give the illusion of legitimacy. And the caution is a sweet touch.
Searched the web and found on your site a similar scam by Johnson Financial for a check drawn on a Wells Fargo Bank.
It's a good thing our son has the sense to check with his parents instead of allowing himself to be suckered into a scam like this that targets young, naive people. He took it to his bank and they declined to accept it.
Notsodumb
Woodruff, Wisconsin
U.S.A.