Question:
How can I find out if the company "American Direct, Inc. " is legitimate? They say we won a $250,000 lottery.
Nikki R.
2006-07-04 10:15:16 UTC
This company has solicited my elderly father. They said he won a lottery and that $250,000 would be brought to him by courier. They already sent him a check for $4,800.00, which he did deposit. He lives in Texas and it's supposedly the Texas lottery that they are working for. I am concerned that it's a scam to pray on senior citizens. They said the $4,800 was paid up front to help him pay for insurance and shipping and handling fees. I think that sounds wrong. Anybody out there who knows about this, please answer.
Ten answers:
E3_E3
2006-07-04 10:18:42 UTC
Obviously a scam.



It has recently been reported that several companies are using the name "USA INTERNATIONAL INC., and AMERICAN DIRECT INC., with possible addresses in Colorado and Nevada. These "companies" have been sending numerous letters throughout the United States advising people that they are the "Winner of the USA Mega-Millions Jackpot" and up to $750,000.00. Included in the letters is a check which appears to be "BSNF Railway" check and made out to the alleged "winner". According to the companies, the purpose of the BSFN check is to off-set any processing fees. THESE CHECKS ARE COUNTERFEIT! In order to claim the "Jackpot", USA INTERNATIONAL or AMERICAN DIRECT requests recipients of their letter call a specific telephone number (unknown to this department) to initiate the claim and to activate the bogus BSFN company check. USA International and American Direct may try to gain bank account information and/ or personal data from potential victims to be used for fraudulent purposes. Anyone receiving fraudulent BSFN company checks should contact Jeff Savage of the BSFN Railway Police at 909-386-4192.



Or...

There is currently an investigation by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad agency on a counterfeit check scheme that uses the BNSF Railway Company check.



According to a news release from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, two fictitious companies using the name “USA International Inc. and American Direct,” with reported addresses in Colorado and Nevada, have sent numerous letters throughout the United States telling people that they are “The Winner of the USA Mega Millions Jackpot” worth up to $750,000.



Included with these letters is a check that is a BNSF Railway check made out to the alleged “winner” who is the addressee of the letter.



According to the letters the purpose of the BNSF check is to offset any processing fees for winning the Mega Jackpot. Varying amounts are written on these checks. These checks are counterfeit.



The letter gives the recipient instructions on how to activate an account with these companies to claim the jackpot money. The letter gives a telephone number that always start with the area code of 778, which is Vancouver, British Columbia.



When the recipient calls this telephone number to claim and activate the counterfeit check, “USA International” and “American Direct Inc.” may try to obtain personal information from the potential “winner” that can be used for fraudulent purposes.



If anyone should receive a letter that has a BNSF Railway Company check, call the BNSF Railway Police Department in Topeka, Kan. at (909) 386-4192.
comptermind
2006-07-10 03:20:03 UTC
If you do not check a company before entering into a transaction, you could lose your money, time

and credibility. Some widely used resources are the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and the

national fraud center ( www.fraud.org) These days, you can easily find out more about a company

using the internet in a few minutes. From a company's website, you can details about its ownership

,how old the company really is and feedback from the company's customers. You can find more

detailed information about a company at http://tinyurl.com/gtb89
2006-07-04 10:21:47 UTC
Whoa. That is so a scam. Lots of scammers will send some money to pay for things like shipping and handling or taxes on the prize money. Then it turns out oh there's some problem so could you possibly do this by credit card? And now they have your credit card number!



If your dad hasn't entered any lotteries he can't win them. Advise him to cut off contact with these people and notify the better business bureau and the fraud department at your local police station.
ulchka
2006-07-04 11:11:33 UTC
If it is too good to be true, it is.



If you don't know if the company exists, then how did you enter the lottery to begin with? Does the company have website with lottery details? Does the media have any knowledge of this lottery existing?



Just make sure you DO NOT SEND ANYTHING to them in anyway. Insurance? S&H fees? SCCAAAAMMMM.
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gz_1st_lady
2006-07-04 10:21:46 UTC
This is a scam discovered in other states as well. See website below for details. Tell your father not to spend any of the money deposited as the bank will likely be taking it back out of his account. Do not give out any bank information, credit card numbers, etc to anyone who calls from this number. They will drain him! Good luck!
October
2006-07-04 10:20:03 UTC
This is a scam If you try to cash the check it will bounce and you will be responsible for it. This was reported on the news Many people were taken by this letter. Trash It!
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2014-09-26 07:48:26 UTC
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2006-07-04 10:19:19 UTC
Try the Better Business Bureau......you can find companies on their site.....that are not on the up and up.
ms.lady
2006-07-10 16:37:19 UTC
better business beurau. or www.bbb.com


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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