Complaint Review: US Claims Bureau American Family Publishers Lawyers Of London - San Jose Costa Rica

Bear with me, it's a long story- but truely interesting...

On the morning of Novemeber 3, 2005- I was awaken by a phone call from a Mr. Roy Brown claiming to be calling from the US Claims Bureau. He had a very thick accent so it was kind of hard to understand him... After making him repeat so many things, I finally understood that I was a winner of 475 thousand dollars from the American Family Publishers. I asked, "No Catch, is this for real?" He claimed there was no catch at all... After reading a short "disclosure" about claiming my prize, he told me that any time between 4 and 5 pm tomorrow that a private carrier would be handing me my check. I was going to call off of work and everything! I figured, "wow, a broke college student like me with that much money?" I was excited... Here came the catch... I was told, in order for the money to be sent out, i had to western union $4,750. I told him I couldn't afford it, so he lowered it down to $1,350 cuz he would work with the Lawyers of London, supposedly a very well known attorny office which I made clear that I've never heard of. I told him this doesn sound right to me at all, so I was going to pass. He then gave me a couple of phone numbers... He gave me American Family Publishers: 877-638-4741, Lawyers of London: 877-214-1756, and the US Claims Bureau: 877-563-4092. He told me if I had any doubt to contact those numbers and my doubts would clear. So I did...

I contacted Lawyers of London first as soon as I got off the phone. I spoke to a man who didnt give me his name. He said they were based out of Costa Rica. He asked if I had already sent out the money, I told him no, I am researching this further. He told me he wouldn't speak to me until the money was sent... Then he hung up...

I then called up American Family Publishers. I spoke to a Benjamin Turner. I told him that I wasn't sure what I should do. He then, in a very proffesional tone, explained to me what the process was, and that I recieved a letter in the mail (which I don't recall) and that I actually did win. I asked how come I had to pay money, he claimed to insure the check would not be lost or stolen, and that I would recieve 2 checks the next day. A check for the 475 thousand, and a reimburstment check for the insurance. He told me to call back and speak to him if I had any more questions, that it is his job to sit there and answer the phone and he would be there all night. I then hung up with him...

I called my aunt and told her the story. She said that when you win money you don't have to pay a dime, that even the lottary doesn't make you insure your check for billions of dollars. And I added that if it is a check being given to me, then I'm sure the bank it is from is already FDIC insured. So she called those numbers and they told her the same things they told me She asked the "lawyer" for a number to reah him that was not toll free. He provided her with 204-744-0606. They all had really thick east coast accents, even the laywer in "costa rica". She then called the District Attorny and Better Bussiness Bureau and they told her not to fall for it. The attorney had never heard of the Lawyers of London and the BBB have no reports on any of the above mentioned.

I then called American Family Publishers and asked to speak to Benjamin Turner, they claimed they had no one by that name. I told them I was told to call in and speak to him personally, and the man claimed to be a supervisor and the guy was probably a part timer that left. That was red lights to me, so I decided to trick them and tell them that I am ready to send the money. They told me to contact the US Claims Bureau, with a bad attitude, and told me that I "better be serious about it." I contacted the US Claims Bureau and spoke to a Paul Wilson, I asked to speak to Roy Brown, and Mr. Wilson claimed that Mr. Brown was a very busy man, and that he is his supervisor and will be able to assist me. I told him I was ready to send the money. He gave me an address od 1311 Paseao Colon San Jose, Costa Rica and that I was to make it out to my asst district attorney, Jeffery Mora-Padilla. I had to send it western union. He told me to call him back when it was done. I asked him for a number that wasn't an 877 number, and he asked in a wierd tone if that really made a difference, and I told him I would feel more confortable sending him the money, and he gaave me 204-744-0606, the same number that the lawyer in costa rica gave my aunt...

I never called back, but this morning I got a phone call from them, and told them never to call me again and to burn my "file". They said, "Yes maam," and hung up. I called that 204 number and a man answered, "hello?" instead of opening with "American Family or US Claims or Lawyers of London" as they did earlier...

Amy

Peoria, Arizona
U.S.A.