My husband received a National Sweepstakes Winner Notification letter from Lucky Surf.com located at 1263 West Lanford Ave. Battle Creek, MI 45018, yesterday congratulating him on winning $25, 000.00. Enclosed was an Official Check in that amount. The letter stated that a cashier's check was also enclosed to "offset the cost of a Prize Seepstakes Affidavit in the amount of $2950.00USD. The letter went on to read that the affidavit had to be obtained through the Law Firm of Burke and Reinhart and provided a contact person by the name of Karen Stevens and a number of 647-887-0867.
My family was ecstatic! My husband is recovering from 3 recent heart attacks and the diagnosis of PAD, CAD, severe diabetes, diabetic neuropathy and the damage associated with these complications. We have an enormous medical bill debt, not to mention the loss of income and medical insurance because he couldn't return to work! We have exhausted our savings, our son's college fund, we have nearly lost our home, and we have had to sell possessions just to buy medication and eat!
Obviously, receiving a notification of this kind, was thought to be a gift from God.
When we tried to call the agent, Karen Stevens with the Law Firm at the only number provided on the letter, we received a message that said, "You have reached the desk of Karen Stevens at Burke and Reinhart and that she is in the office but away from her desk or with another client. Please leave a message and I will return your call in 1 to 2 hours." Then the message states, "Sorry, there is no more room to record new messages." and then it hangs up. We tried for days to contact this person. We tried to obtain another number for Burke and Reinhart only to discover that the Law Firm doesn't exist, the address doesn't exist, and the phone number is a cell phone from Toronto Ontario. This letter has sponsors listed at the bottom from GAP, Food Lion, Google, Wal*Mart, and AAA! We contacted the bank, Woodforest National Bank, that the checks are issued from, to discover that the routing number is a valid routing number for their bank. The account numbers do not match any account at their bank, but they are signed with 2 signatures, they are official appearing checks complete with watermark security.
After repeated attempts to contact Karen Stevens, I did manage to reach her, but she said she was with another client and told me to call back in 2 hours. I told her that we have been trying to reach her for days. She said "They had experienced some technical difficulties, " "Call back in 2 hours, " and then she hung up on me. I have not been able to reach her since.
I have emailed Lucky Surf, explaining the situation and received confirmation that my inquiry was received, but I have not heard back from them. I attempted to send another email, but it was rejected stating, "I had exceeded the maximal message count for today."
Our family has suffered the loss of my mother, my husband's 3 heart attacks 6 months later, the loss of medical insurance, job, income, savings, college funds, and now the stress and heart break of thinking our prayers had been answered only to discover that it is a hoax. I sure hope there is a logical explanation and that Lucky Surf will make this right with us or the culprit(s) behind a terrible scam are brought to pay for this crime!