North American Direct Sweepstakes Consumers Promotion Inc. Sent fake check with "some" winnings, wants money wired to them to collect the rest. Check looks real, but is fake. Hartford, Connecticut

Received letter with a legit looking check with all the watermarks and safeguards. 

Letter was from the Consumers Promotion Inc. announcing that I won the North American Direct Sweepstakes sponsored by the Professional Insurance Company.  The check was for $3987.00 and said I had to call 877-571-6411 and talk to Kim Nino to collect the rest of my $71, 000.

I supposedly won the sweepstakes by shopping at Wal-mart, Sears, Home Depot, Walgreens, Target, Macy's, etc... which pretty much covers everyone in the U.S. and Canada.  Oh, and I also had to wire them $2,999.80 for Non-Resident Govt. Service Tax through Western Union or Moneygram.

Letter was delivered in a plain white envelope with no return address and according to the post mark, mailed from Baltimore MD.  It had a regular postage stamp on it, because we all know that major businesses that mail stuff out like this use regular stamps and not postage meters...not!

Check is a stolen check with a fake account number.  The scam is that you deposit the $3987.00 check, wire them $2,999.80, then by the time the bank discovers it's a fake check, they charge you for the full amount plus fees, and you're also out the $2,999.80 that you wired to the thief.