Reader’s Digest

Victim Location 65807

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I got a phone message saying that I had won $1 million. They left another phone number for us to call to claim the winnings.

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

A man named "John King" contacted my elderly Father. He won 5 million and a car but UPS would need $500 to deliver. My Father will not believe it is a Scam. I called the number. No answering machine but it was a cell phone that went straight to voice mail. Five minutes later, a call back. My Husband answered and was hung up on. I called back the number from earlier and the number he left, I left a message saying not to contact us again. My son stayed over night and hung up on two calls by 11am. He came home for a bit, then we went back to make my Dad supper. The minute I come through the door my Father informs me that the money is his and he would be calling back tomorrow morning. "John King…" ‘understands that his Daughter doesn’t want him taking these calls BUT also why am I holding him back from claiming what is his? I dont make his decisions.’ My Father has gone on and on…. "He doesn’t sound like a scammer," "I told him why my Wife is away, the whole story, and he felt really bad for us," "The money wont go to him, it goes straight to UPS."

SO maddening that I literally can’t do anything. I’ve added my parents to the National "Do not call" list. Reported this info here. I tracked "John King’s" number to Bala Cynwyd, PA.

I have no idea what info my Father gave or confirmed as everytime the story is slightly different. He is 80 and has a Brain Injury. I know he confirmed his name/address/number, beyond that…. not sure.

Victim Location 53150

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

"John Richards" called me letting me know I won some $3 Million with a claim# 95212F. "John Carter" called me the next day under a different phone number claiming I won $4 Million.

Victim Location 44122

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I got a phone call from Jonathan Hayle claiming that my name was withdrawn from a sweepstakes for the Reader’s digest. He told me that I won 3.8 million dollars in the drawing and that they mailed claim letters to my home, which was an old address that I haven’t had for the past nine years. The reason for the phone call was that he was telling me that I haven’t responded to his letters for the past 4 months. He told me not to discuss it with anyone else because of hackers. I was told I must keep this to keep this highly confidential until I had the money in my hand. He also told me that I needed to open up a new bank account with my current financial institution. He told me I couldn’t open the account with a new bank, that it had to be with my current bank. He asked me if I had a checking or debit card, savings with the financial institution. He said since I had a savings, I could make it into a checking account. He told me in order to get a registered government letter with the prize amount on it, and I had to pay $2500 in order to certify the letter to claim my prize. When I questioned him about having to pay the money, he told me I could do a citizen’s waiver, but that would take longer for me to get my prize money. He even went over tax liability of thte prize with me.

Victim Location 73109

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received a phone call from Reader’s Digest saying I had won a sweepstake for a new car. He said his name was John Rich. He said I would be receiving another phone call from Amanda Brown to make arrangements for the prize. He said Peter Washington was their general manager. I knew it was a scam, and they were very good at it. They gave me a package number and a 6-digit release number. But they said I just had to pay 1% to be released the car which would be $335.35.

Victim Location 44144

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I was contacted by Readers Digest saying that I had won a prize but that I wouldn’t have to pay 600.00 for the postal registration. I stated I don’t have this and she stated she could work something out with me. I told her I would call her back later

Victim Location 80910

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

A man with a caller ID name of Gregory Bilhaus told my elderly father his name is "John Forbes" from Reader’s Digest and my father has won a lot of money. He asked him personal questions and my dad has told him tthe name of his bank and his balance, etc. My dad thinks it’s legit and "John" will call him back! What do I do? I live here.

Victim Location 85711

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

On 5/15, received phone call from person(John Baker-name used) saying I won a prize back in 2009 and did not claim. Person said he was from ScamPulse.com and was notified by Readers Digest that I had not claimed prize. Gave me claim no 020 70 25-AZ. Person wanting to contact me was James Carson, ph no 929-343-3010. John Baker gave me a phone no for the main office of the ScamPulse.com – 315-506-4457. I called local office and was told sounded like scam, wanted me to report it here.

Victim Location 63132

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received a call from a Dr. David Anderson representing Reader’s Digest. I was told that i had won a large sum of money and that a Derrick Wilson will call me regarding its delivery. I was given the id number 0025US and asked for my bank name, last 4 of my ssn, mother’s name and co signer for the check.

Victim Location 96813

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I keep getting phone calls from a gentleman that said I won $2.5 million because I won something for Reader’s Digest. He said he needs to get in touch with me so that he can come to my house with someone from BBB, the IRS, the FTC, and Reader’s Digest and we will all go to the bank.

Victim Location 35022

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

Reader, s Digest sweepstates winner of 2 million dollars.

Mary White package coming by UPS. Get money gram and have it ready to pick up.

Pkg # EK2279426314

CK# 79961332

Account Name for moneygram John Benson from Hainesville, AL

Victim Location 16501

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

Victim was contacted by a Frank Museli saying he was a US Marshall and he was informing the victim he had won $450,000 from Readers Digest. He would have to send $1200 to collect the winnings. Victim did not say how th $1200 was supposed to be sent.

Victim Location 28364

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

A Mr. John Blackwell called 3 different times between 9:10 and 9:45, he stated, "I had won $258, 000.00 from the Reader’s Digest." He indicated that he would be flying out of New York tonight and he and a U S Postal worker would be delivering me the check by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, Sept. 29, 2016. I informed him that it sounded like a scam, and that I would be contacting the BBB. I hung up the phone, he immediately called back, an insisted he was a honest senior citizen. He then stated I would need to pay 1% to the IRS and pay extra money for the transfer of funds from one state to another state.

I will say, he was very persistent, I finally took the phone off the hook after the third call.

Victim Location 74194

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

I received an letter from Reader’s Digest explaining how I’d won over 500,000 in a sweepstakes from 6 months prior. The letter included a check for about 4,000 to cover "any expenses" that might arise in order to receive the money. It was posted from Houston, Texas with no return address. The letter had contact information with an address from Texas, a zip code from Florida and a number with an area code from Canada. I was asked to contact representatives before cashing the check.

The letter was typed on a paper that had the Reader’s Digest logo and watermarks across the background.

The check appeared real, it had a perforated edge with watermarks and no suspicious information. It was sent from SafeCo, a Liberty Mutual Company.

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

someone called stating they we’re from Reader’s digest leaving a message that we had won 5.5million dollars and we would have to pay them 455.19 before we can get our winnings and if we did not want to pay we could pick it up in Hammond, ON but after reaching Readers Digest, they confirm that the procedure they’ve used is not the way their lottery is processed and they do not operate out of Hammond. It’s a scam that is aiming at elders and retirees The scammers gave me a CiBC account number to deposit the to 020427038889

Victim Location 34491

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

Letter received indicating a prize award from a Sweepstake Draw for a lump sum amount of $535,069.00 cash. Letter indicated that they tried to contact the winner for 3 months. Ask to keep award confidential until processed.

They do not deal directly with the public but through their licensed and bonded North American Agencies. Insurance company is the one who issues check (check provided in amount of $7,850.00) to cover federal charges that are required before receiving the lump sum. Gives a number to call David Kuster or Barbara Adams to activate the claim.

Prize Disbursement: Jon Bencher

Victim Location 23233

Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes

Caller claiming to be Reader’s Digest said that I was a sweepstakes winner in the amount 2.5 millions.  Send processing fee in the amount $450, should get from the bank and send the money to their office.