SENDING OUT FICTICIOUS CHECKS

ON APRIL 7, 2008 I RECIEVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL ALONG WITH A CHECK FOR $2982.60 MADE OUT TO ME FROM A BANK NAMED TEXAS DOW EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION. I LOOKED UP THE TDECU ON THE INTERNET AND IT TURNS OUT IT IS A BANK. IN THE LETTER IT STATED THAT I HAD WON THE 3RD GRAND PRIZE OF A LUCKY SWEEPSTAKES. IT ALSO GOES ON TO SAY THAT THE WINNER MUST PAY A PROCESSING FEE BEFORE HIS/HER FUNDS ARE RELEASED AND THAT THE SAME LAW ALSO PREVENTS THE WINNER FROM PAYING OUT FEES FROM HIS/HER PERSONAL POCKET. IT HAS A REFERENCE NUMBER AND IT SAYS THE NUMBER MUST BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE CLAIM IS PROCESSED. AT THE END OF THE LETTER IT STATES THAT THE FUNDS ARE NOW DEPOSITED INTO AN ACCOUNT AT THAT BANK WHICH IS INSURED BY THEM. AND AT THE END IT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY THE CHECK WOULD BE VALID WAS TO CALL THEIR OFFICES. AND THE NAME OF THE REPRESENTATIVE I HAD TO SPEAK WITH WAS JERRY SCOFIELD. APPARENTLY HE OR THEY ARE LOCATED IN LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS. I CALLED AND SPOKE WITH THIS REPRESENTATIVE AND ASKED HIM WHAT THE CHECK WAS FOR AND HE IN RETURN ANSWERED "MA'AM THE CHECK IS YOURS AND IS VALID ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO YOUR BANK AND CASH IT," I RESPONDED "AND THEN WHAT?" HE ANSWERED "AFTER YOU CASH THE CHECK AND COLLECT THE MONEY CALL US BACK AND WE WILL THEN TELL YOU WHAT YOU MUST DO TO COLLECT THE REST OF YOUR PRIZE." WELL, ME NOT EVER THINKING IT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME WENT TO MY BANK AND DEPOSITED THE CHECK. I HAD ASKED FOR $500.00 AND THE REST BE DEPOSITED INTO MY ACCOUNT. THE TELLER COMES ON AND SAYS THAT SHE CAN ONLY GIVE ME $500.00 BECAUSE THE CHECK WAS PUT ON HOLD FOR 5 DAYS TO SEE IF IT WAS A LEGAL CHECK AND WOULD CLEAR. SO I THOUGHT OK THEN IT'S OK IF IT IS ON HOLD AND MAYBE IT WAS BETTER THAT WAY. WHEN I DEPOSITED THE CHECK I CALLED THE REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN AND TOLD HIM "I CASHED THE CHECK SO NOW WHAT?" HE SOUNDED SUPRISED AND SAID "YOU DID," I RESPONDED "YES SIR," SO I WENT ON TO TELL HIM THAT THEY ONLY GAVE ME THE $500.00 AND THE REST WAS ON HOLD TO MAKE SURE THE CHECK WOULD CLEAR. HE SAID "OK WHEN YOU GET THE REST OF THE MONEY CALL US BACK AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO AFTER THAT." NEVER ONCE DID I STOP TO THINK THAT I WAS IN FOR A BIG SURPRISE. WELL, I GOT PAID ON APRIL 10TH AND MY CHECK IS DIRECTLY DEPOSITED INTO MY SAVINGS ACCOUNT SO I TRANSFERED THE FUNDS I HAD LEFT TO MY CHECKING ACCOUNT WHICH IS WHERE THEY WERE HOLDING THE MONEY FROM THE CHECK FOR CLEARING. SO HERE I AM APRIL 11TH ALL MY BILLS ARE DUE AND THE MONEY I TRANSFERED WAS TAKEN OUT OF MY CHECKING ACCOUNT BECAUSE THE CHECK TURNED OUT TO BE A FICTICIOUS CHECK. I OWE THE BANK THE $500.00 AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY BACK THE 2982.60 JUST BECAUSE I DEPOSITED THE MONEY INTO MY ACCOUNT AND THE NUMBER THEY CALLED ON THE CHECK IS NOT A WORKING NUMBER AND SO IS THE ACCOUNT NUMER ON THE CHECK ITSELF. TALK ABOUT FREAKING PISSED. NOW WHAT DO I DO? I HAVE ALL MY BILLS DO AND $300.00 TO MY NAME AND DON'T GET PAID FOR ANOTHER 2 WEEKS. I CALLED THE REPRESENTATIVE AND ASKED FOR JERRY SCOFIELD AND THE SAME MAN I SPOKE TO THE FIRST TIME WAS THE SAME MAN THAT HAD BEEN ANSWERED THE PHONE THE PAST COUPLE OF TIMES. SO HE ASKED "WHO IS SPEAKING?" I GAVE HIM MY NAME AND TOLD HIM WHAT THE BANK HAD JUST TOLD ME "HE SAID OK," AND THEN I HEARD SILENCE. THIS STUPID S.O.B HAD HUNG UP ON ME. I CALLED AND CALLED AND NO ANSWER. SO I AM NOW WAITING FOR THE COPS TO COME TO MY HOUSE SO I CAN FILE A POLICE REPORT. AND WHAT GOOD WILL THAT DO ME? WILL I GET MY MONEY BACK OR WHAT DO I GET FROM ALL OF THIS? THE NUMBER THAT WAS ON THE LETTER WAS 514-559-5384 AND WHEN I CALLED AGAIN TODAY THERE WAS A RECORDING AND THE NUMBER ON THE MACHINE WAS 514-583-7592. HE ANSWERED THE 2ND NUMBER BUT NOT THE 1ST ONE. SO JUST TO LET YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE KNOW. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT YOU RECIEVE IN THE MAIL. REMEMBER NOTHING IS FOR FREE AND IN THIS SITUATION IT WILL COST ME ALMOST $3000.00 TO HAVE LEARNED MY LESSON. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS OR WHAT TO DO?