Winterville Man Finds Scam In The Mail

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Winterville Man Finds Scam In The Mail

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Posted: 7:54 AM Mar 20, 2008
Last Updated: 7:54 AM Mar 20, 2008
Reporter: Heather King

15 comments

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Randy Jones of Winterville contacted WITN's "Scam Alert" about this one. Jones says he received a check in the mail for $4,970 along with a letter saying he qualified for this free financial assistance. The letter instructed him to pay a commission of $497 within five days, and referred him to the website, www.awardchecks.com. The letter said he'd been assigned to the broker, Al Snyder.

On the website, awardchecks.com, Al explains he had an emergency errand to run in Europe, so commission money needed to be wired to him overseas. That inconvenience is a big tip off that this is a scam, and the Better Business Bureau agrees.

There is a risk when you cash a check like the one Randy received in the mail, even if you have no intention of sending the commission money back. If a bank clears a counterfeit check through your account, you may have to pay that money back to the bank.

Thanks to a quick-thinking Randy Jones of Winterville for passing this along to us so we could pass it on to you.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: sv Location: Michigan on Apr 29, 2008 at 07:55 PM
As all of you did, I received the same award letter from Global Cash Registry for the same amount. I knew it was too good to be true and it sounds like someone wants to do something illegal with our thumb prints and make a bundle of cash with people sending the $20 processing fee. The depressing part of all of this is that I really need money like that. My son has special needs, and I am really broke. I struggle everyday trying to give my son the help he needs. If I could win money like that, I could help my son who is Autistic. When I received awards letters like that in the mail, it is like a kick in the gut that I will never be able to give my son the high quality help that he requires. It is like a cruel joke. Keep your scams criminals. I do not need the aggravation. sv

Posted by: Ellen Location: Colorado on Apr 28, 2008 at 11:02 PM
I received notice of winning $3,495,000. what a scam anyone that wants money sent when they can take out of winnings, do they think we're idiots. Use comman sence

Posted by: Fred Stevens Location: Ripley, Wv on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Yea thanks thought iti was funny. to thumbprint and $20.. right off question it..

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 28, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Posted by Gordon Charleston Wv. I recieved my notice today april 28th Saying that I have won 3.495000.00 From Global Cash Registry Some one can do something about this if they would

Posted by: Barbara Location: Tennessee on Apr 28, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Thanks for the warning. I just recieved my letter today,April 28th. Said I had won $3,495,000.00, Just send my thumb print and $20. I'm glad I checked in at google.My letter was from Global Cash reistry also.

Posted by: Stormie Location: North Carolina on Apr 28, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Dear Randy, Thanks for posting your comment about winning $3,495,000 from Global Cash Registry. Just recieved mine in the mail today along with the thumb print. What can we do to these people? Please post this so others will know as well! Wanted the $20.00 to process as well. April 28,2008

Posted by: Anatoliy Location: Kapustin on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:48 AM
The same think, I received a cash award notification for $3,495,000.00.I think FBI and Police has to work much better to secure Americans from swindlers. Now them so many that America faced the Banks Crisis

Posted by: sharon Location: Baltimore on Apr 25, 2008 at 06:14 PM
I, too received a cash award letter from GLOBAL CASH REGISTRY for the amount of $3,495,000.00 also asked for a copy of my thumbprint and $20 for secure processing. Of course no phone number was given. As far as I'm concerned, this should be a crime. It probably is! Hopefully, they will be put out of scam business soon!

Posted by: Shirley Location: Freetown, Mass. on Apr 17, 2008 at 07:35 PM
I too received a letter from Al Snyder,called Washington Mutual and was told the same thing, account was closed. Glad I was smarter than he thougth. I also went looking for other scames, and I think I just might of found who this guy is.He seems to already be in the court system, just don't know what to do. He signed a court document in Penn and is to be back in court in May. THE handwriting on the docment looks like the one on my check, Al Snyder the only thing is the guy has another name in front of the AL Snyder who was just in court April 14,or 15.Maybe thats why he won't be back in his California office.I would love for this guy to be caught.I'm sure some people put that check in their bank,and sent him money.Any way we can nail him.

Posted by: Woody Location: Long Beach, CA. on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:34 PM
I received the same letter from Award Checks. I took the letter to Washington Mutual where they confirmed it was a scam. The account existed a few years ago, but was closed out by the bank. I then took the letter to the Long Beach Police Department where they simply shredded it for me. Nothing else they could do. By aware, there’s a never ending supply of these jerks out there.

Posted by: Lisa Location: CT on Apr 14, 2008 at 05:12 PM
I received the same letter as Randy Jones from Al Snyder for $4900 - pay him 10% - he is still in Europe by the way. I called Washington Mutual about the check to see if it was for real. If I ever receive a response back from them - I'll let you know.

Posted by: Karen Location: Austin, Texas on Apr 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM
The cash award letter I received from GLOBAL CASH REGISTRY for the amount of $3,495,000.00 also asked for a copy of my thumbprint for additional security. Wonder what they will do with thumbprints! Pretty Scary! Also requested a $20 document release fee. My belief is, if it sounds to good to be true - it probably is! Hopefully, they will be put out of scam business soon!

Posted by: ROBERT Location: GRIMESLAND on Mar 30, 2008 at 04:08 PM
YES, RANDY IS RIGHT.I USED TO GET THESE TYPES OF E-MAILS ALL THE TIME. DID YOU KNOW THAT I'M THE CLOSEST RELATIVE TO HALF THE WORLD? I LIKE TO WRITE THEM BACK JUST SO THEY WILL WAIST THIER TIME.

Posted by: Ciarra Ruckman Location: Albany,MO on Mar 22, 2008 at 12:19 AM
I also received a check today from Global Financial Services for 3,450.00 with the check was a letter saying to call my broker by the names of Don Rogers and Emily Taylor. It looks like a real check . The letter said my ticket number was drawn from a pool and I was the winner of 120,000.from 2 million the was shared with other winners,That my funds were depodited with a security company and insured in my name,Also gave me a batch number to give them when calling. I have yet to call , I am sure it is a scam.