TOP Financial Services, Inc. And Gentzler Electric Services, Inc., Patrick Johnson Claimed that I won $250,000 , Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

I received a letter stating that my name was chosen from a random computer generated drawing as the winner of $250,000. I was mailed a check for $4,670.00.

I called and spoke with Patrick Johnson, or so he said (I was originally given a different last name). As per the letter, I was advised to contact this person.

I was instructed by Mr. Johnson to deposit the check that I received into my bank account and to contact him after I had done so. I was advised that I should deposit the check and that it was mailed to me out of my "winnings" to cover the costs of the tax that I should pay to Karen Burns, 5542 Broadway Street, Brandon, Manitoba, in the amount of $3,860.00.

I was also told that once I had deposited the check into my bank account and called him back, he would make arrangements to have the remaining portion of my prize mailed to me.

Upon questioning this information, Mr. Johnson became aggitated and stated that he would not repeat any of the information that he has told me. When I expressed concern over the information in the letter, and about when I had entered my name into the drawing, he told me that I had just admitted that I had never done so and my name would be removed from the prize list. He continued by stating that if I were to deposit the check which I was mailed, I would be "getting myself into alot of trouble."

He also told me that the call was being recorded and that I should shred the check immediately. When I again tried to ask him a question, he proceeded to hang up on me.

I am fairly certain that this is a scam of some kind and I am concerned about how they received my contact information. The letter was sent in a plain white envelope with no return information.

Heather
Brewster, New York
U.S.A.