Brian Glendale - North American Retailers Guilds - Nicole Hamilton - Greg Lyman Consultants LLC. Nicole Hamilton Sent me a check for $3990, and wanted me to send them $2920 for the taxes on $150000 Dallas, Texas

But those businesses are not involved in the scam.. 

Federal Trade Commission offers this advice on how to spot and avoid this scam

A Dozen Ways to Protect Yourself

The next time you get a "personal" letter or telephone call telling you "its your lucky day," the Federal Trade Commission encourages you to remember that:

1. Legitimate sweepstakes dont require you to pay or buy something to enter or improve your chances of winning, or to pay "taxes" or "shipping and handling charges" to get your prize. If you have to pay to receive your "prize," its not a prize at all.
   
   
2. Sponsors of legitimate contests identify themselves prominently; fraudulent promoters are more likely to downplay their identities. Legitimate promoters also provide you with an address or toll-free phone numbers so you can ask that your name be removed from their mailing list.
   
   
3. Bona fide offers clearly disclose the terms and conditions of the promotion in plain English, including rules, entry procedures, and usually, the odds of winning.
   
   
4. Its highly unlikely that youve won a "big" prize if your notification was mailed by bulk rate. Check the postmark on the envelope or postcard. Also be suspicious of telemarketers who say youve won a contest you cant remember entering.
   
   
5. Fraudulent promoters might instruct you to send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier to enter a contest or claim your "prize." This is a favorite ploy for con artists because it lets them take your money fast, before you realize youve been cheated.
   
   
6. Disreputable companies sometimes use a variation of an official or nationally recognized name to give you confidence in their offers. Dont be deceived by these "look-alikes." Its illegal for a promoter to misrepresent an affiliation with or an endorsement by a government agency or other well-known organization.
   
   
7. Its important to read any written solicitation you receive carefully. Pay particularly close attention to the fine print. Remember the old adage that "the devil is in the details."
   
   
8. Agreeing to attend a sales meeting just to win an "expensive" prize is likely to subject you to a high-pressure sales pitch.
   
   
9. Signing up for a sweepstakes at a public location or event, through a publication or online might subject you to unscrupulous prize promotion tactics. You also might run the risk of having your personal information sold or shared with other marketers who later deluge you with offers and advertising.
   
   
10. Some contest promoters use a toll-free "800" number that directs you to dial a pay-per-call "900" number. Charges for calls to "900" numbers may be very high.
    
    
11. Disclosing your checking account or credit card account number over the phone in response to a sweepstakes promotion or for any reason other than to buy the product or service being sold is a sure-fire way to get scammed in the future.
    
    
12. Your local Better Business Bureau and your state or local consumer protection office can help you check out a sweepstakes promoters reputation. Be aware, however, that many questionable prize promotion companies dont stay in one place long enough to establish a track record, and the absence of complaints doesnt necessarily mean the offer is legitimate.