Publishers Clearing House CONTEST RIP OFF SCAM-WINNING 3RD PLACE POMONA California

I too, received a letter dated for 9/23/2008. in the letter it stated I was the THIRD place winner of the 12 MiLLION DOLLARS GRAND PRIZE DRAW, sponsered by Martha Stewart Living Magazine.

The letter goes on to say I won $1,000,000.00 and enclosed was a certified check to cover "any outstanding fees that has not been paid by PCH". The contact person was also Judith Benson (as I read the same in every other victim's letter), and when I called Mrs. Benson I got her voice mail. I then called the IRS agent listed- Mr.Arthur Pierce and received a recording in French that then translated in English to say "the party you are calling is not available."

I finally did receive a call back from Mrs Benson and she fuddled through her papers and then put me on hold to "verify my security code" to which I was then disconnected. When I called her back she mistakenly answered and then apologized. I could hear her fumbling through papers as she talked with me and when she finally got herself together she tried to put on the fake excited air in her tone of voice to say "you are the 1,000,000$ dollar winner, how does it feel?". when I told her it feels fine but I never filled out a sweepstake and she said "oh you didn't?" well you could have heard a pin drop because she didn't know what to say. When she regained her composure she advised me she would "need to consult her supervisor and call me back". When I replied why did she need to call me back she said "well if you have never entered the PCH sweepstakes this could be a problem", to which I asked her what do I do with this $5,340.00 check and she stated "well if you never filled out a sweepstake entry that could be a problem", to which I asked her how was I supposed to take her seriously when I was reading all sorts of reports on the rip off web site about her, this was the final spin....she hung up.I did call MS BENSON back and I left her a message that if I am able to trace anything back to her she will wish she never became a part of this scam. I plan on reporting this to my local news channel as well. It's a shame such things have to exist in our lives that we cannot let our guard down for one single minute!!!!

Catherine
Broadview Hts., Ohio
U.S.A.