Imperial Financial, Inc. Fraudulent Notification of Sweepstakes Winning Numbers Sydney, Nova Scotia

Just received a letter and check similar to those reported by others on this forum.  Winnings were $485,000.00, check is for $4800.00 and tax amount is $3850.00.  Told to notify claims agent (Frank Williams) at 604-7288493 to start claim processing and "activate" check.  Michael Victor is the so-called author of the letter, his title is Chief Financial officer and he did not sign the letter. 

An obvious scam although the check certainly appears to be quite legitimate and the bank is M&T Bank in Altoona, PA.  The account is in the name of an entity called "SHEETZ" and the address is 5700 Sixth Avenue, Altoona, PA  16602. 

I will not be contacting "Frank Williams, but would assume that if I did, the conversation would go something like instructions to deposit the $4800 check and wire the agent the $3850 "tax" via Western Union.  The check would never clear and I would be out the money paid to the claims or tax agent.  Interesting how an attempt is made to fool the victim into believing they have nothing to lose given the fact that their check exceeds to tax amount. 

The obvious warning signals are as follows:  the name of the sweepstakes is USA Mega under the International Sweepstake.  A quick search online indicates there is no such entity as USA Mega or a legitimate company named Imperial Financial and certainly not in Sydney, Nova Scotia.  Who pays tax to an agent in advance of receiving a windfall from winning a sweepstakes or in a casino?  That's done after the fact and tax is paid to government agencies, not IRS employees or other individual agents.  Why does a check need to be activated?  It's either good or it's not.  Why would I receive a check to pay taxes in advance of receipt of a large monetary prize? 

Certain that there are other similar scams out there and wanted to help others recognize this for what it appears to be, fraud and theft.