Publishers Clearing House, Canada notified me as a third place winner in a draw sponsored by Marth Stewart Living Magazine. There was a check enclosed for $5,340. drawn on a West Virginia bank. I was asked to phone Mrs Katherine Hill (attorney for PCH) for instructions. I was to wire $3,000.to
Mr. Jonathan Brown in Calgary or to Attorney Dorothy Freeman in St John's, NL I wondered if either person was real so I checked them out on the internet. They had addresses in Calgary and Newfoundland, so I felt it safe to wire the money and then phoned attorney Jonathan Brown in Calgary. He said he knew nothing about the $3,000. Apparently, PCH had only used his name to fraud me!
Cathy Stewart had signed the PCH notification. We were unable to reach her.
So, I phoned the American Internal Revenue agent who's name was also on the PCH notification. His name is Harvey Armstrong and he had a phone number. It was a Qubec cell phone which was not answered. I phoned the IRS about agent Armstrong. I was told to submit form 3949A to report this fraud, which I did.
The $5,340. check has not cleared my bank. But, I know already I've been taken by a Canadian international fraud team. I'm contacting the office of consumer protection in our state and will follow-up with law-enfourcement.
Katherine Hill introduced herself as an attorney for PCH, Dorothy Freeman was the attorney in St.John's, Jonathan Brown the attorney in Calgary. Does that say anything?
Jim
Bozeman, Montana
U.S.A.