Reader's Digest Scam-71st Lotto-Ontario,Canada

[HANA81]

HI GUYS I RECEIVED THE SAME LETTER BUT THE CHECKS WERE GREEN IN BIG YELLOW ENVELOPE ,AND I FOUND THAT ITS WRITTEN ON THE REPLY ENVELOP THAT YOU THE SENDER AUTHORIZE THEM TO SUNSCRIBE YOU TO READER'S DIGEST FOR A YEAR ,FOR A COST OF 29.96 DOLLARS +7.99 FOR POSTAGE AND THAT YOU AUTHORIZE THEM TO BILL YOU LATER ,,,, ALSO THAT YOU ACCEPT TO RENEW THIS SUBSCRIPTION EVERY YEAR ,,, BUT YOU CAN CANCEL THE RENEWAL PRIVILEGE. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT IN MY LETTER THEY SAY THAT THIS LOTTERY IS ONLY TO PEOPLE IN ONTARIO BUT IN THIS WEBSITE I SAW A PERSON FROM ANOTHER PROVINCE AND HE SAYS THAT HE RECEIVED THE SAME LETTER ,,,, SOOO I THINK IT IS A TRICK FROM THEM TO HAVE SUBSCRIBERS TO THEIR MAGAZINE . AND THANKS PLEASE REPLY TO MY COMMENT
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[daruki]

My mother just received the exact same, except in french, but since she's not all that good in French, she's asking me to fill her out.

I've read a few pages, but the contents in the yellow envelope and the fake cheques they attached just to show you and that ludicrous amount of text in the back is giving me headaches. Did a few searches and ended up here, and from what I can gather...

This is probably legitimate and not a scam (at least one that would really damage her bank account), but it might still be a marketing hoax and I was just too lazy to read and find every single word. While mom's saying how she's gonna trash it for being a scam, I know she's a shopoholic and would probably still regret a bit of letting this go. I'd ask for advice, but I think I already know: it's probably safe, so it's up to us, right?

[pokodotsonmyfingers]

i got that letter but mine is alot different it says that a limo will pick me up at my house and drive me to the airport and fly me FRIST class to montreol and a limo will pick me up after i get out of the plane and drive me to this five star hotel and be in the contest for 500,000.00.
man am i in i have always wanted to go in a limo my whole life but i hope its not a scam i really want to go
oh and i get to bring 3 people with me.....hmmmm who shall i bring????

[Nyla]

As has been recommended several times in the thread, READ all that fine print and small text and you'll have your answer. If the entry isn't asking for sensitive personal information and you've read and understood the terms, there's not a lot of harm in entering such a contest, if you keep said entry in perspective. I doubt very much that all the posters in this thread could be confirmed winners.

Most legitimate sweepstakes MUST, by law, offer you the chance to enter without making a purchase, but opting out of the purchase may require some action on your part. (such as checking a box to state you don't want to enroll in the Scandinavian Cookbook Of The Month club for $9.95 a month, or what have you).

And be aware that if you do get enrolled (either because you didn't follow the instructions for opting out or because they accidentally enrolled you anyway), canceling can be a hassle once the bills start coming. And expect to get lots more marketing if you respond. Assuming you're good about not spending money you don't have on products you don't really want and don't think that buying a product increases your chances of winning (it doesn't, or the sweepstakes would be breaking the law), that's likely fine. You'll increase your junk mail and your recycling, but no one is likely to be asking you to bank a bogus check and send part of it somewhere as an imaginary "tax" or "fee" to claim "the rest of your prize", for example. However, if your mother has a problem with impulse purchases of things she doesn't really need, perhaps inviting Reader's Digest to market more products to her is not a particularly wise thing to do.

This, after all, is WHY RD runs sweepstakes. It gives them marketing exposure, helps them sell products and helps them gain subscribers. Subscribers mean they can charge for ads from advertisers, which means revenue. RD is making nothing off of your subscription, they make money from selling ads to advertisers, and you count as a verified set of eyeballs if you subscribe. The more eyes on the ad, the more they can charge for the ad.

Also, READ the fine print to see what your odds of actually winning are. In most cases, these mailings will state that you have NOT already won and will quote the actual odds of winning. These odds may depend on how many people send back the entry.

Having actually won a smaller sweepstakes prize once upon a time (not RD, I hasten to add), I can offer this advice. If you HAVE really won something, you'll probably be sent an affidavit of eligibility that you need to return in order to claim the prize or, in Canada, be asked to answer a skill-testing question. You WON'T be asked to bank a check in order to cover "fees", asked to pay taxes in advance, or insurance on the shipping of the check, or to pay a single dollar to claim your prize by a legitimate sweepstakes. Legally, you can't even be charged shipping and handling. Taxes, yes, but you pay those directly to your tax authority, and only AFTER you have received the prize. (Or in some lotteries, they can be deducted from the prize at the time of disbursement.) Know the warning signs of a scam and you're very unlikely to lose money to one, even if you accidentally "enter" a bogus sweepstakes.

And the magazine posts a list of winners on the website. If this page is any indication, the winners won't be decided until perhaps May.

http://www.readersdigest.ca/sweeps_new.html

We can't really verify a sweepstakes mailing solely on a pretty vague description of it on a forum. If you really want to verify it, you'll probably need to contact RD directly and ask if you were on the mailing list for said promotion/sweeps. If that's not possible, then read the fine print and make sure you understand what you're agreeing to and that nothing about the mailing makes you uncomfortable.

[MeganBell]

The following letter for Reader’s Digest and check inclosed IS A SCAM. I know this because we received one and believed it but smartened up once the man asked for “insurance” money. The letter says Reader’s Digest all over it in blue writing. It states Reader’s Digest at the top with this address - 3002 288th ST FEDERAL WAY WA 98003 USA then there is a TEL/FAX number 1-888-834-2565. Below the header states a reference number, an example of this would look like J 447-21-09RD. Below the reference number will be this statement in all capital letters FROM: THE DESK OF MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT “WITHOUT PREJUDICE” This statement is also underlined. The letter will read as follows. Dear Mr. Or Ms. Smith (for example) This is to inform you of the release of the READER’S DIGEST LOTTO draw held on February 2nd 2009
Among the 126 participating finalists playing 6000 full tickets in the fifth series, from a pool of Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) in cash, your ticket number is 26800-97 attached to your name, drew the lucky numbers 15-21-35-39-42, which won that prize in that category. Therefore, your number has been approved for a lump sum payout of Two Hundred and Forty Two Thousand Dollars (ours was $242,0000) In cash credited to a file reference number J 447-21-09RD, payable to by a Certified Check and will be delivered by a Special Courier Company.
The next paragraph will basically explain that they have been trying to reach you but could not and they suggest that you keep this “award” confidential for security and protocol reasons. This paragraph also sates that this “award” is time sensitive and non-compliance could result in disqualification - such and such.
Anyway the third paragraph states exactly this...
Since we do not deal directly with the public, to begin your claim, this notice has been forwarded to you from one of our licenced and bonded North American Agencies and a copy would be sent to the insurance company. The enclosed check for $*,***.** is part of your winnings made available to you to pay insurance and processing charges on your winnings, and it would be deducted from when your winnings are release to you. You are required to contact James Owen at (picture of telephone) 1(778-858-3390) to activate your claim before you deposit the check at your bank, this is very important.
Congratulations and thank you for your interest in Reader’s Digest Sweepstakes.
Sincerely,
Thomas D Williams
Chief financial Officer ~ There is a picture of the real Mr. Williams and a signature.
My suggestion is to report this letter if you receive one to your local police and put a fraud watch on you credit just incase they have more info. Then you think. Thank you for reading my post and keep an eye out for these fraudulent check writers~sweepstakes phoneys.

[Nyla]

A few of points in regards to the post above. Just to be clear, the letter did not come from Readers Digest. It came from a scammer impersonating Readers Digest.

Readers Digest would NEVER claim to be running a lottery. Corporate entities do not sponsor lotteries in North America. The magazine certainly does sponsor quite a few legitimate sweepstakes, but not lotteries. Lotteries, by definition, require the purchase of an entry or ticket. Sweepstakes usually do not require any purchase, and requiring a purchase is generally a violation of law.

A legitimate sweepstakes will NEVER send you a check and ask you to cash it in order to pay a particular tax, fee, claim fee, or any insurance. To ask you to pay any cost to claim an already-won prize would be a violation of advance fee laws. A real sweepstakes win is paid out with no financial obligation, and maybe an affidavit of eligibility.

So, to sum up, any mention of a lottery in combination with Readers Digest or a request to pay anything back to RD is a sign you're not dealing with a legitimate letter.

Interestingly, the same toll-free number shows up in a powerpoint presentation about a multi-level marketing scheme. http://www.clubsuccess99.com/sci/htg.pdf

Some people buy Lotto tickets - passing over real money for a "chance". Every once in a while I see something in the Readers Digest 'catalogue' which appeals to me, so I order it. I've always had value for money spent. Other than that, I spend money on stamps and promptly send in my completed forms with all the fancy stickers -- in the "NO" envelope. So I have my dreams -- just like the Lotto dreamers. And as a writer, I really enjoy the way they simultaneously extend hope of the big win, at the same time they cover themselves very carefully with phrases like "should your number be the winning one, you WILL..." and liberal use of the word "if"! Read their promo carefully - it's really fun!
But as of the 71st draw - I quit! From now on the envelopes will go into the recycle bin - unopened! But they are clever in the way they overlap the draws so unless you really check - you're 'sucked into' the following draw before the current one is completed!

Yeah , most likely a rubbish advertisement. Don't think i have ever dealt with Reader's Digest before... strangely my letter says "98% OF CANADIANS, INCLUDING 98% FROM BC HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED FROM OUR NATIONWIDE OFFER AND WILL NOT RECEIVE AN IMPORTANT ENVELOPE WITHIN THE NEXT 3-5 WORKING DAYS."


oh nooo poor disqualified people

][_, [[]] ][_,

as far as i went, i did reply their entries since 2007,and now is 2009.i had win nothing yet. I've try ordered their book,doing their subscriptions and such... i will give it up if i dont get any further notice or sign of winning this fall.... it was like a mental illness for me.

[Nyla]

Buying products NEVER gives you a better chance of winning a contest of that nature. In fact, I believe in North America, the sweeps is forced to give an alternate entry method for those who do not wish to make a purchase.

Please follow this link:

http://rdcanada.custhelp.com/cgi-bin...i=&p_topview=1

Originally Posted by stormigrl

P.S. Yes I will keep you updated on the outcome from the bank and other stuff I receive in my mail.

So what is the outcome, Stormigrl?

Originally Posted by stormigrl

I received this in my mail and I'm dumbfounded out about it.
Not only was Reader's Digest able to know both my last names, but they also knew that I did banking with a certain bank I was first claimed Identity theft on. And they knew my address correctly and I don't have anything registered with or subscribed to Reader's Digest. I have nothing with them.

I'm sure its a scam. I can't think of anything else about it. I never wrote to Reader's Digest regarding anything nor did I tell them both my last names.
I've been a victim of identity theft before but this is crazy!

Letter starts off like this:
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) Limited (ALL IN BOLD) + Address

Your name and address Tracking Ref: 000
DEADLINE COMPLIANT


NOTICE OF SELECTION FOR (YOUR NAME) POTENTIAL FINALIST TO WIN AN INSTANT $500,000.00 IN THE THIRD AND LAST STAGE OF THE 71st NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES.

To: YOUR NAME,

When people receive a Prize Draw invitation-just like the one on its way to you now- the often decide to throw it away, just thinking "no one ever really wins." And it is a fact that if you receive Prize Draw numbers, but choose to ignore them, you will NEVER have the good luck to win ANYTHING in our Draws.

Every day, people like you, with real chances to win thousands of dollars, decide not to believe in their Prize Draw numbers, and let a guaranteed chance of winning a valuable cash prize slip away- simply because THEY DON'T OPEN OR RETURN THEIR PRIZE DRAW DOCUMENTS.

Some people, like Mrs. Abbatt of Notre-Dame-de-Grace, Quebec, let their Prize Draw numbers sit on a mantlepiece or in a kitchen drawer until time runs out... a mistake that cost her $32,500.001 (I've changed her details to preserve her anonymity and to spare her the embarressment.)

If you've heard of our Grand Prize draw in the media lately you may be surprised to know that in our whole of the Ontario area, only 4% of the households have been selected to receive our fabulous

While many of your neighbours will look to their mail in vain, you have already been fortunate enought to clear two of the three stages that there are to becoming a winner in our Sweepstakes. Our computer selected those of Ontario who should take part, when it came to (Your city), not only did (your Road or Street) represented, but it picked the (YOUR NAME) household.

Now that the Prize Draw numbers have been issued, it can be confirmed that you are the only person in the whole of Canada who will receive the six numbers allocated on your forthcoming Statement of Account. If your luck holds and any of the those numbers go on to be drawn as a winner, you'd have sole claim on ALL THE MONEY OF THE PRIZE YOU'D WON: and that would be a cash amount worth UP TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS. (The enclosed copy of a letter from our Finance Director to me declares that we are prepared to disburse prize funds for payment of any prize you may win.)
But I have to remind you: for that to happen, YOUR NUMBER MUST BE RETURNED.

That Statement is on its way to you now. It confirms your Final Stage entries, the amount(s) you could win and it requests your immediate response. It is vitally important that you reply without delay as with that Statement will come documents that guarantee access to VIP priviledges- priviledges you can claim immediately.

* You could win HALF A MILLION DOLLARS...
* You could win up to $155,00.00 in ADDITIONAL PRIZE FUNDS...
* AND you could WIN A BRAND-NEW CAR!

A prompt reply is essential for you to make the most of ALL the opportunities on their way to you. Reply by the entry close deadline stipulated and apart from any of the 1,009 prizes in the Draw, you'd also have the chance to find out how to verify if you've already wond a "Cash on Demand" prize of $33.750.00 CASH - just for an early reply.

Watch your mail over the next few days for your Statement of Account: it will arrive in a large manila envelope with a green tracking number seal marked "Ref. #000." If you fail to return your numbers you'll stand no chance of winning a prize; but if you send back AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE, any of them could be a winner!

Now it's all up to you. We've brought you this far... but we can't send your numbers back for your. Why throw away the chance of thousands of dollars? IT MUST be in your best interests to return your numbers THE MOMENT THEY ARRIVE!

Good luck!

(Signed)
Marisa Orsini
Prize Award Administrator

PS. Don't lose out by not replying promptly - or worse still, by not reply at all.
We promise to pay in full any prize you may win, but we can do nothing if you don't return your numbers. Don't miss out - don't let your chances slip away- RETURN YOUR NUMBERS AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE.

Note: If you do not receive your upcoming documents within 14 days please write to: Reader's Digest Customer Service PO Box 112628, Stn Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 5Y4, enclosing this letter and we'll ensure you don't miss out on this opportunity.

(Small print: Registered office: The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) Ltd, 1125 Stanley St, Montreal, QC H3B 5H5

(Enclosed was my photo Copy of a letter from A.Cioffi, Finance Director, National Headquarters. To M. Orsini.

Re: LL 0000

Dear M. Orsini,

Re: PRIZE DRAW FUNDS PAYOUT

As agreed, I am happy to confirm that a letter of guarantee issued by (Your Bank) on Behalf of Reader's Digest has been placed on reserve with the proper government authorities to cover payment of total prize funds to the winners of our 71st National Sweepstakes.

These funds are available for immediate release on instructions from myself and can be made payable to Prize Draw winners in the form that they prefer, by cheque, electronic transfer, or in cash my special arrangement with us.

The preparations made above would enable us to authorize the transfer of Reader's Digest prize funds including the Grand Prize sum of $500,000.00, from our corporate bank (YOUR BANK) in Montreal to the winner.

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Finance, Reader's Digest

cc: K.Burgess, Controller

(ITS STAMPED COPY)
But on the back it tells you: OUR COMPUTER CAN ONLY DRAW NAMES FROM NUMBERS REGISTERED AS RETURNED- DON'T REJECT YOUR CHANCES TO WIN UP TO $500,000.00 -REPLY NOW

(also the personal gurantee is listed with the others who didn't respond in enough time)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


**I'm going to bring this to my bank and find out whether its legit or not, but I believe to it being a scam. As to how they got my first and last names correct its beyond me, because I don't order from Reader's Digest and this is the second time they sent me something like this and even the last time I didn't respond.**

Note: ALWAYS SAFE GUARD YOUR IDENTITY, IT'S THE NUMBER ONE TO YOU.

Reader's Digest on this letter had no phone # on it to contact them, nor did they have MY PHONE # on it PHEW!

Take Care of yourself always,
M.

P.S. Yes I will keep you updated on the outcome from the bank and other stuff I receive in my mail.

I too have been receiving such mails from Readers Digest, New Delhi for the past 2-3 years quoting my bank credit card.
The promotional letter claims that I could win millions of Rupees and a car even if I did not subscribe for the magazines. They send two envelops - one business reply for the subscriber of magazines and the other for non-subscribers.

Luckily I replied at least twice without subscribing.

I just received a similar letter this is now October 21, 2009. It says I am eleigible to win $500,000.00. I now have to wait for more documents and then return them for a chance to win. I shall keep you all posted if I do win. Here is a link to the winners page etc.

http://www.readersdigest.ca/sweeps_new.html

Cheers!

Just got mine with Hasting's Entertainment on the check, called them and they verified the fraud...check could have been cashed, bank said it was legitimate so I am unsure how cashing the check helps the fraudster's but...IT'S NOT REAL!!!!!

[Nyla]

Originally Posted by JAMS

Just got mine with Hasting's Entertainment on the check, called them and they verified the fraud...check could have been cashed, bank said it was legitimate so I am unsure how cashing the check helps the fraudster's but...IT'S NOT REAL!!!!!

Read the rest of the thread and your questions are answered.


Fake, stolen or forged checks can indeed be cashed. The bank doesn't fully verify the check when you cash it. Frankly, about all they do is make sure it's not such an obviously bad fake that it's written on the back of a piece of toilet paper with crayon, they make sure the account exists and that there is money in it to cover the check. Those last two may take a few days. Cashing a check is essentially an interest-free loan pending full clearance of the check.

What they don't do, until the check is fully cleared, is verify that the owner of the account actually authorized/produced the check. When it becomes clear that they didn't, that's when the trouble begins. The bank seizes back its money and you can end up in legal trouble, particularly if you have withdrawn it. Some victims find themselves charged with a felony.


You can cash it, alright, however, you would be paying it back when the bank discovers it's fraud, plus any overdraft fees, and possibly a bad check fee. The fraudsters benefit if/when they convince you to use part of this "advance check" to pay some little "fees" that you owe before you can claim your full prize. Once you send the money via Western Union or Moneygram, it's gone for good, just like you had handed cash over to a stranger while blindfolded.

Or at least that's how the typical sweepstakes-with-check scam works. There are soem variations, but that's the most popular approach.

[samie_k]

I just recieved a similar letter, for a chance to win $500,000.00. There doesn't appear to be anything bad about this letter... All they want me to do is just send in my 'trip prefernces' if I were to win the money. I basically had the option to fly to Montreal to celebrate my win [first class flight, and a very nice hotel], or I could stay home and they'd forward the money to whichever bank or financial institution I prefered... It seems relatively harmless I must say! I am definitely going to send it in, I hear Montreal has some wonderful spas

[Dodobird]

Samie K, please read the post above yours. It summarizes very well how this type of scam works.

Originally Posted by John Fairheart

Nyla's response sums it up very well. You could always ask the Readers Digets if it really is from them, but based on the analysis, it isn't a fake lottery or scam, it's just *junk mail* to entice you to enter and maybe win something. It's just marketing rubbish.

If you go to the FAQ's on Reader's Digest Contests, they have a warning there that the letters we are all receiving are NOT from them. They also give some details on 5 seperate "prize" scams running in North America, using the Reader's Digest name and 4 addresses - unknown to them.

The address on my letter (1125 Stanley St Montreal, is listed on their warning. It is a cheque fraud scam.

[Nyla]

We've summed this up what seems like a few dozen times now, posters.

If your letter purporting to be from Reader's Digest contains a check and asks you to cash it and send part of it in for taxes or some kind of fee, it's a FRAUD.

If it's just a typical letter from the marketing department that doesn't guarantee any prizes, properly quotes the usually very high prize odds, does not ask for any money and does not require you to purchase anything to enter or continue in the sweepstakes, it's likely legitimate. However, I still wouldn't hold my breath for a prize.

You can usually figure out the difference by reading the fine print. If it's actually from RD, there will be some. And no check to "pay fees" or "pay taxes" or as an "advance payment on your prize". Particularly not a check that is supposedly written by another business or organization.