Golden Clearing House Sweepstake - Lori Daniels was polite but Willowdale Ontario

'Golden Clearing House Sweepstake', the letterhead on the sweepstake letter received. Under that, 'Publishers clearing house readers digest sweepstakes Head office: 9 Timber crest Dr. Port Moody, BC V3H 4T6'

Sounds official, right?, don't be fooled.
The letter stated I won in the Golden Sweepstake Lottery held on May 20, 2008. I won USD$68,000.00 in cash. Enclosed a check of $3,950.00 payable to me 'in order to pay your accounting and clearance processing fees for the prize.' The check is drawn on First Bank of Houston, Tx 77263, of which there is no such bank that I could find in yellowpages.com. Call this number to get things started: 1-514-692-6805. I did and talked to a Lori Daniels of Canada. I asked her why I could not find the bank name and address listed on the check in the yellow pages and she said, 'The bank name changed and they are now located out of California'. I was told to put the check in the bank and when I received the funds to call her back for further instructions.
Red flags:
1.letter post marked Canada
2.post office box in Willowdale, Ontario for return address on envelope
3.the sub-letterhead streed address does not exist
4.bank on check does not exist according to yellowpages.com
Don't be fooled, this is a scam and a con. Readers Digest will never have you pay the taxes and/or clearance processing fees for you prize.

Marlene
Orwell, Ohio
U.S.A.