Is this a scam? I have an actual check from a company called BIP Financial in Pittsburgh?

Question

I'm researching it a little now, but here's what the letter says

The letter is to inform me that their network shows me as a lucky winner of an unclaimed prize $ in a large amount (not millions). My name was randomly selected through a computerized ballot system.

All participants were selected through a computerized ballot system drawn from Reader's Digest, Publisher's Clearing House, Online Sweeps, internet games, etc.

The enclosed check is to cover the administrative taxes and Clearance fees of the winnings. For authorization and activation I must call the number listed which is to my "agent". I must claim the winnings no later than a certain date not to far from now.

My name is attached to a claim number and they advise me to keep it confidential until the claim is processed as it is part of their security protocol. I must use the number in all correspondence with them.

The letter looks professional. It's on letterhead and everything, with a proper signature and address. The company listed is BIP Financial Services and Consultants. It says it's a division of Brookfield Infrastructure Partnership. The address listed is a PO box from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Answer 1

It sounds highly suspicious.

Answer 2

Yeah...you'll want to chuck that directly in the trash, or use it to line your bird cage, if you have one. Those are the types of letters that are "blanketed" to generalized mailing lists.



When you call, they say you have to pay taxes on the money...or they can only send it to you in products of that value and send you a mailer to select how you spend your money. Then they expect you to "pay shipping". You'd never get the stuff, and if you tried to get legal help to resolve the issue, the company wouldn't be there. Better Business Bureau has an endless list of companies who use "legitimate" looking addresses that are nothing more than dummy addresses (they don't exist or the building does exist but is abandoned). Never ever trust any company that claims you've won, but lists nothing more than a P.O. Box. P.O. box numbers like that are common ways that scammers steal your money. They collect a ton of checks, and no one is the wiser...they often use false names and home addresses to obtain the P.O. box. And "professional" letterhead is easy to create using a home computer.



Ask yourself this: Why would it matter if you told your friends and neighbors? Why do you have to keep it confidential? Could it be because your whole neighborhood got the exact same letter?



All they want to do is have you call...they get your personal information (which makes it easy to steal your identity)...have you send a bit of money...then ask for more, claiming their was a processing problem...and when you finally get fed up with months of waiting and sending in tiny fees, they begin harrassing you. I knew an older woman who this happened to. The "agent" went as far as to demand yet another fee (after she'd paid two). When she said no, the threats began...threats of lawsuits and even used "We know where you live. We have your address." Then on two different occasions, left death threats towards her and her family on her answering machine because they knew they wouldn't get caught!



So, like I said, I'd toss it in the trash because usually even the sheriff's department or your Post Master General has so many of them that it does no good to file the report.

Answer 3

Looks like a scam, smells like a scam, probably is a scam. Any time you''e asked to "keep confidential" a big red flag is waving. Want to know for sure- take it to your bank. Don't try to cash it, just ask them to validate it. My wife works in a bank & they see hundreds of this type of thing every month. They keep a log/list of scammer transactions.

Answer 4

Probably a sales technique to get you on the phone and get some of your personal information. I'd toss that right in the trash...





If it sounds too good to be true......it is.

Answer 5

SCAM! Throw it away. You've won nothing, and they're just trying to get you on the phone to sell you something else. When something looks too good to be true, trust me, it usually it is.

Answer 6

YES. IT IS A SCAM. AT SOME STAGE YOU WILL FURNISH ALL DETAILS OF YOUR ACCOUNT INCLUDING ALL YOUR PASS WORDS.... THEN, YOU ARE DONE WITH. WATCH OUT.



RAM

Answer 7

S C A M !