I recieved a letter in the mail today containing a check in the amount of $4890 to be paid directly to me. Supposedly I was one of 20 winners splitting a $5 million dollar lottery pot from Shoppers Sweepstakes that washeld on Sept. 5, 2008. The letter contains the winning ticket serial number and the winning numbers that were drawn. The claim number that was given me is DH/HUL-0011 and was also assigned to "their North American Claims Affiliate". The purpose of this check is to pay for applicable government taxes on "my winnings". The tax amount is $2985 to be paid by MoneyGram. The letter goes on to say that I'm not to use the check until I contact my claim agent: Barbara Jones 1-905-598-5656. The letter ends "Congradulations, Yours Truly Paul Jones (Promotion Manager)"

The signature seems like it was photocopied or pasted in and does not even come close to resembling the name Paul Jones. I made a phone call to my bank for advice and they instructed me to not use the check in any form or fashion and that it may be a scam. They also told me to google the name and sure enough it is a scam. Being an accounting major in school also helped in drawing up red flags but called my bank to verify my concerns.