Global Clearance Inc. bogus MEGA MILLION SWEEPSTAKES notification, invalid check and $3400 tax fee Edmonton, Alberta

I was sent a "Final Notice" claim form from GLOBAL CLEARANCE INC informing me that I had won their Mega Million Sweepstakes third prize of $125,000.  I had never been contacted before about winning any such sweepstakes.

A check for $4450 was enclosed, issued by TIAA-CREF- an annuities company, which the letter claimed was a sponsor of the event.  The issuing bank was JP Morgan Chase.

TIAA-CREF                       and               JP Morgan Chase Bank N .A
P .O. Box 1281                                        6040 Tarbell Road
Charlotte, N C 28201                             Syracuse,, N Y 13206

The routing number 021309379 has been flagged by the FDIC before.  The "issuing bank" was different, but the notice was similar, telling the recipient that they had won a Mega Million Sweepstakes.

The account number listed was 601879281.

The check itself was green in color, with the words "This Document has a Graduated Background.  Dark to Light.  The Reverse Side Includes an Artificial Watermark." 

The back side was gray with the words "Original Document" in white and a box with the lock symbol and the words "Check Lock Security System: Chemically Reactive Paper with Erasure Protection.  Warning Band and Micro Print border line on front.  Artificial Watermarks and Original Document Security System on back."  There is no artificial watermark visible.

The letter asked me to "contact my claims agent Charles Brown or Jessica Mizelle on 1-604-729-5049 to start the claims process."  But also listed a Tax Agent:
Edgar Gomez, to whom I was required to send $3400 USD by Western Union or Money Gram as payment of my applicable taxes on the winnings. 

The tax agency was listed as Tax Handlers UK, the agent again, Edgar Gomez and the address 13 Voss Road London U.K.

Needless to say, as a US citizen I had no intention of sending a tax payment to anyone but the IRS- it was this instruction that made me look into the issuing company.

The letter promised the balance of my "winnings" $120,550 sent by courier as a certified cashiers check.

THIS IS A SCAM.  If it seems too good to be true it probably is, and if it comes from GLOBAL CLEARANCE INC, it definitely is.  Do your homework.