Royal alliance financial services? anyone else get a check and strange letter from them saying you won?

Question

Breifly to explain, it has a REF and Batch #, a phone #, says RE: Lottery claim notification, I won something from pro-state lotto corp

I have to pay about 60% tax on the check to Canadian government - I'm in the US - but the check is so I can pay the tax and collect the large sum, I don't recall what it is.

the number works, but I had to get off the phone as it's busy holiday here.

I'm asking if anyone else got this letter/check, what they did, what you would do.

and what would happen if I cashed it.

Answer 1

SCAM!

If you didn't enter, you can't win.  A legitimate lottery will never send you a check for taxes. Taxes are taken directly from the winnings.  The check is fake and by the time your bank catches it, you would've already sent the 60% off never to be seen again.  Then your bank will look to you to cover the entire face value of the check plus fees.

Besides, international lotteries are illegal.

Just toss this in the trash!

Answer 2

Yep and I suspect it's a scam.  DO NOT DEPOSIT IT!  If you do, and it's fraud then you are liable for the funds.   Notification for sweepstake winners comes via certified mail.. return address on envelope, etc.    I reported it on fraud.org.   Read this -   http://www.fraud.org/toolbox/tips/englis...           - sound familiar?  

Bummer too cause I certainly could have used the $$$.   I have NO garantee that it's fraud but would prefer to have a nice surprise - that I really did win after due diligence, then to get the surprise of being responsible for the $ spent that wasn't mine to begin with.  

If you can't be sure and decide to take it to the bank, be sure to provide full disclosure of how the check was obtained - then you are letting them know you had no knowledge of any fraud being committed.  Another tell - that they asked it be kept confidential...

If you would, please keep me posted on any updates you get and I will also.     Good luck!