SOUTHWEST TRUST INC. Sent me a check that is a scam. TEMECULA California

This company had sent me a check on October 31, 2008 stating that my category "A" Business/Home Improvement Grant was approved. The letter stated that I had a grant in the amount of $37,000.00 and that it would be dep[osited into an escrow account pending my claim.

The letter stated that I had won this grant and other applicants that qualified by submitting applications, also had won grants and were all randomly selected from Readers Digest and Publishers' Clearing Houses databases, by ballot from Home Improvement stores and other participating department retail stores.

The company sent me a che3ck for $3950.70, which the letter stated that the $3950.70 was a deduction from my total grant amount of $37,000.00. It said to use part of this check to pay the necessary fees and taxes for this claim and the balance would be mine to keep.

In order to activate my account and the check I was suppossed to call the number and speak with claim manager assigned to my file. I was told to ask for Andrew Coxwell or Lisa Woodworth at the 289 number between 8:30am to 10pm est. time. Monday - Saturday.

After doing so within 3 to 5 business days by courier delivery the remainding $35,0500.00 would be disbursed to me as a final cash settlement. THen the check concluded with Agent Mary Flowers @ 10401 Foster Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11236-2207 from the escrow account department will elease my funds as soon as my claim was filed.

The letter also states that the funds are a grant not a loan and would not have to be repayed. On the backside of the letter it also states that donors of this company are GAP, McDonalds, THe Home Depot, Sears, Walmart, Sunoco, Starbucks, ExxonMobil, Western Union, Best Buy, GE, Hitachi, Office Depot, Wendy's, GM, Panasonic, Costco, Microsoft, IBM, and Toshiba. Which I don't think any of these companies would like their names attached to a scam like this.

The company also states that it is located in California which the area code is an Canandian area code. And when I called the number all I received was a voice mail and the mailbox was full and could not accept any more messages.

Also the bank the check is supposidly drawn off of in California, Union Bank of California, is also a fake bank. I guess this just goes to show you when something sounds to good to be true most of the time it is.

Steve
WHITE LAKE, Michigan
U.S.A.