I received this letter in the mail...

Return address on the envelope is
P O BOX 4368
VAN. BC V6E 3H8

International Claims Department
330 John Street, Toronto m3m 1c5
Canada
Office Line 1-1416-8342816

Dec 1, 2007
claim no. jca/0578

Sir/Madam,

WINNING NOTIFICATION
We are pleased to inform you that you are one of the declared winners of AUSTRALIAN LOTTERY GAME held on OCTOBER 30, 2007 in the 2nd category..
Ticket serial no.89052380 drew the winning no.9432830.

We have made many unsuccessful attempts to contact you regarding this winning
you are therefore entitled to the sum of $100, 000 US DOLLARS. This is from total prize money of $1 MILLION US DOLLARS that was shared and presented among the other 10 declared 2nd CATEGORY winners. Please note that all the participants were selected through a random computer ballot system drawn from over 100, 000 names.

In accordance with you disbursement policy your claim number as been assigned to you North American Claims Affiliate, your claim number must be kept private to avoid a double claim

TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING, ENCLOSED IS A CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $4, 900.00 US DOLLARS, WHICH IS PART OF YOUR WINNING BEING SENT TO YOU, THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THIS CHECK IS TO ENABLE YOU PAY FOR THE APPLICABLE GOVERNMENT TAXES ON YOUR BIG WINNING

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PAY A TOTAL SUM OF 2, 985.00 (TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE DOLLARS) FOR THE GOVERNMENT TAX. THIS AMOUNT IS TO BE PAID EITHER BY MONEY GRAM OR WESTERN UNION directly to the tax agent.

When the winning is processed, you will receive your FINAL CHECK a lump some payment of $95, 100.00 this amount will be sent to you and delivered by UPS.
Please do not attempt to use this check until you call. You are advised to contact your claim agent immediately for further certification as indicated below within 5 business days.

MR KEN WILSON 1-416-834-2816 (CLAIM AGENT)

Congratulations

Yours Truly

MRS. JULIA ANTHONY (Promotion Manager).

{This in on the check}
(top left)
FHP(a logo) F.H. Paschen/S.N. Nielsen & Associates
Insurance Account
Los Angeles, CA 90074

(top middle)
COLE TAYLOR BANK
WHEELING, IL

PAY
FOUR THOUSAND NINE-HUNDRED AND 00/100 DOLLARS

TO THE ORDER OF
THEY USED MY NICKNAME FRANKIE (INSTEAD OF MY GIVEN NAME) AND MY LAST NAME

Signed by looks like Joline Melles (which was printed with a copier or something not with a pen)

I went to the website of F.H. Paschen/S.N. Nielsen & Associates and sent them an email...
I am contacting Cole Taylor Bank customer service in the morning.
I'm not sure if i want to call the 419 number... but I think I should contact the bank... maybe they can watch out for anyone trying to cash check like this... When I opened an envelope postmarked in Canada and saw a $4, 000 check I immediately thought scam... has anyone else received one like this???