Reader's Digest / Trusted Media Brands review: prize money 108

Check No. 6371 for 17.97 for renewal and 6 subscriptions has been cashed by you and cleared by BB&T. No word from you about the start of thse subscriptions. Was this a gimmick?

Don't bother to log on your computer to claim your free surprise gift - it will be to subscribe to a book club (which I'm sure we all can't wait to do) and for just 24.99 + 6.99 (s&h) you can get another book every 2 months! Just more junk mail! No thanks!

This is the second contest I've tried to enter through R.D and could not connect to either one. To me this is poor advertising and a waste of my time. I'm losing faith in R.D. and their contests quickly.

I received in early June a book by the name VOL 3-10 Winter Garden, I did not order and now they are sending a PAST DUE notice. I will not pay I would only do is to send it back. My budgest is very low and can only pay for medications. Thank you

no such site

I am sick of all the scams that Readers Digest does, this one is entry for Fast Cash Giveaway and the site does not even exist!

I have jsut recieved a free surprise gift form Readers dugest I have recieved this magazine for over 27 years and this is how they treat or should I say trick loyal customers. Very underhanded and low for what I thought was a classy magazine

I received card for 1 year of readers digest for only $10 dollars after I sent in 10 dollars I receivedfirst book and another bill for another 10 dollars then got a card for the so called free gift which was a book club it said pick free book then get more books I dont want more books and I am not paying more money this is just a scam alltogether card said www.rd.com/surprise IT'S A SURPRISE ALLRIGHT

I received a card from readers digest saying because I am a preferred subscriber there was a free gift waiting for me I logged on and guess what no gift .This company is going down hill in my opinion.I am going to cancel my prescribtion and hope everyone that reads this also does the same .It is about time someone stops these companys from all this junk.

Hello, I work for Reader’s Digest in Customer Care and I just came across your post.

I am sorry to hear you are being billed for a book you did not order or receive. We do not expect you to pay for something that you have not received.

If you would contact us directly by calling [protected] or emailing us at customercare@rd.com one of our agents will be most happy to make the necessary adjustment to our records.

Chelsea
Customer Care

Maybe you should ask Santa Claus to help you - In your christmas list.

this is very disrespectful on how your treating your customers, after there being very loyal to you. you should rethink you adds and stop scamming people and getting there hopes up it not fair.
My Grandma is very loyal to yous and this is how u treat her! i dont approve

Thank you Kira Fuss
madragak@live.ca

My name is Sylvie and I work for Reader's Digest in Customer Care.

If you are trying to find the link through a search engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.), it is possible that you will not be able to access the website to enter the contest. Some of our contests are "by invitation only" and also cannot be found through our main website.

To access the URL provided on the card you received, you must type it in the address bar of your web browser.

You may also click "File" then "Open" in your web browser (for example, Internet Explorer) and type the address in the space provided. Be sure to type the address in lower case as upper case may not work.

If you are using Web TV or AOL, you may be unable to access the website.

I hope this will be of help to you and I wish you the best of luck.

If you have any questions, you can view our FAQs at www.rd.ca/contact.

Sylvie Robert
E-Care Coordinator
Reader's Digest Canada

i tried to find the site to register for the ipod touch and no site seems to exist. i then tried to locate contact info and that doesn't seem to exist either. i just don't think i will even waste my time or money purchasing something that doesn't seem to exist

I agree with everyone above. My wife and I received a check from them in the amount of $3750 just before the New Year and were thrilled because my wife has been out of work since March. We called the number [protected] and spoke to someone calling themselves Brian Dobson. He said to deposit the check and call him back which we did. My wife and I are of course skeptical so we looked this up on the web and found this site. Our letter was from Readers Digest only and the bank issuing the check was in Texas. Just like everyone else the letter was postmarked with a Canadian stamp and the letter has a header with a P.O. Box in San Diego and an address in B.C. Canada. I work in the printing industry and see checks all the time. This is very realistic looking but ultimately it is a scam! Don't fall for it

My husband just received a letter from Pepsi Cola one in sponsorship with Readers Digest.
It says he won a million dollars! We were Happy we called the number, left a message for a call back. Then we started thinking it can't be true! If we won they wpould have sent a cerified letter. Then we looked at the envelope it came from canada!
Thank You for putting this blog on. I think we would have fell for thios scam.
So please everyone beware it is a scam. I even looked up both the bank and the other name on the check, the addresses were real in Wetumpka, AL. I am thinking of calling this bank Monday morning and sending them this letter and check

my mom recieved the same letter and check for 5, 850.oo and our contact person was rachel myers!? an answer machine picks up but no one answers, they request that you say your name before the machine connects you to your contact person, this really made us happy for a few minutes till we found found out that this was a scam. the scary part about this is that women, mothers, elderly and the dead are being victimized. contact your local police and news channel. those canadians are going down.

i got the same latter she told me to deposit the $ and withdraw the 3500.00 and she whus going to meat me at my home to git the $ 4 insurance and thin i wus going to git my 1mill. im now calling the fbi

TOTAL SCAM! I'm in California and there was a letter addressed to my mom in the mail today claiming she also won $1M... UUhhhhh - my mom passed away in 2005!

Similar to all of you - there was a check enclosed (bank address was in Ohio) and instructions were for my mom (wink wink since i didnt disclose she had passed on) to deposit the check; send a wire transfer to Yalick Banza in Montreal for 1/2 the check value. I got hung up on after I told Phil Risotto he was full of ### and was a lowlife for being a predator on our senior citizens

my wifegot a letter today with a$4900 chech also postmarked Canada and the company's name is All Phase Electric from East HELENA Montana. The first thought I had is why would an electrical contractor be involved in a million dollar contest?Just for giggles I am going to call the person Amy Cooke tomorrow and I will post an update

The thing that makes me really mad is that it appears that they send the scam letters to older women and dead people. Since I am still alive I guess that makes me an "older woman"! AND no money!

I will put the letter in the recycle bin after I show all my students.

Received the same letter, Same info, diffrent name. The guy had me going until he said we had to send them $2800 TODAY! and then we would have to give the delivery driver who bring us the check another $2000 once he delivered the check. Its sad because there are people falling for this crap!

I just got the same letter, check dated 9/11/09 for $5, 641.99. also from Canada. My daughter went on line and found there are no contest or giveaways put on by Pepsi cola/Readers Digest. and found this site that covers other people that have got this same letter.One person call the number and they were told to send money to cover the taxes. Beware this sounds like a SCAM. I am also contacting the police.

Got one of these for my mom today. She has been dead for almost 4 years now. I don't think she could have entered. The account is not active and the bank of america switched me to the fraud department.

I found this on the PEPSI CO WEBSITE! LOOK HERE!

Pepsico has an announcement on their webpage that this is, in fact, a scam:

Fraud Alert: We recently learned of a mail fraud scam that is falsely using the PepsiCo name. It claims that individuals have won "one million dollars" and a chance to appear on TV to win one billion dollars. They also offer a check for thousands of dollars, in exchange for personal information. This is currently being mailed to some consumers’ homes and we want the public to be alerted that PepsiCo did not initiate, nor does it endorse this activity. The check is not ours and has no value. We do not use these types of incentives for the purpose of collecting personal information from our consumers, and we would never ask our customers to divulge any private information. Please do not respond to the letters or attempt to cash these fraudulent checks. If you receive a mailing of this nature, we ask that you forward it to us at Consumer Relations, 1 Pepsi Way, Somers, NY 10589.

Thanks for giving us the chance to clarify the situation, and we encourage you to share this information with anyone who you think may have received this mailing so that they are not victimized by this fraud. We regret any inconvenience or concern.

dont fall for this guys its a scam!

Savannah

My grandmother recieved this Pepsi Cola Reader's Digest letter as well with a 5, 100 dollar check inside. We followed the instructions called the number and spoke with a Rachel Myers which some of you also know. She gaves us the instructions to keep it hush hush and not to tell anyone. Also to deposit the check in the bank and withdrawl 3, 500 out cash only. Right then we knew something was wrong and didnt add up. Because she told us she was an attorney for Pepsi Cola we believed her went to the bank and what do you know... THEY DENIED THE CHECK. THey said it was fake a scam and even Wells Fargo where the check was issued by confescated it and ran it thru their detection software. Now that my family jumped for joy got our hopes up just to be scammed by this is unexceptable and I WONT ALLOW IT. Not to make matters worst but today is my grandmothers birthday so im really pissed they pulled this crap over us. I will NOT be played for a fool and will seek justice till its served! Anyone with information or advice please feel free to comment. I am NOT letting this go those people are filth and I believe in KARMA so it will go around. THanks so much in advanced. Sorry to all those who are in the same situation.

Sincerely,
Michelle

Hey Yo this is Ken in Cally and my mom just got one of these dam letters!
Now its a scam 4 sure. These punk ### mother###ers are going to pay 4 this,
they ###ed with the wrong mother ###er... U know What I mean!
U need to ask the postman where this letter came from 4 starters.
then call the ###in postoffice and ask to talk to the ###in superviser of the US / Can
Post office. They are the mother###ers delivering these boggess letters to our ###in
doorstep. Got it...
Thanks for reading my post now lets get those wanna bee gangsters cause Im one
later peeps... Im near San Francisco any single ladies out there email me back
kensmedia number 2000 at yahoo dot com.. Have a good night and beee safe ok..
Ken

My wife received the same thing today. We live in California. We both immediately recognized a problem from many different "red flags". Obvious things, such as a check in advance of you winning a contest?! For "fees" not already covered?! That's not logical. A check from a domestic bank ("Keybank" branch in Fulton, NY for my wife's check of $5439.75) drawn on an account registered to "Longley Brothers Inc." of Fulton, NY?! The payor has NOTHING to do with Pepsi nor Readers Digest! Clearly the accounts of the fake checks are/were real accounts at real banks. The names, and possibly even the account numbers, are stolen. Clearly, if the recipient were to "pay" to the scammers, their account would likely be used for future victims... as they would now have a new "real" account number - and the $5k +/- from the victim. The origin is Canada, and the fake checks are french on the back, which probably protects them from US prosecution. As a side note, for those that have called the number, you might want to verify that your long distance service hasn't been changed. Past scams have been correlated to calling a number, which switches your long distance to an insanely expensive long distance plan... which is billed via your local carrier. If the new fees aren't paid, it could go to collections and foul up your credit (most people choose to pay the $50 - $300 first month's fees rather than fight it and risk their credit rating.).
Just remember: BAD people are out there. Use common sense, though, and they won't win.

my grandma got one and i think its fake too

My check for $6000 was also mailed from Canada w/no return address. I had a funny feeling about it because I didn't enter a contest & no one I know entered me. So, I did a business search on the company, Barnes Family Funeral Svc, & the bank, Norwest Bank North Dakota, from where the check was issued. The mortuary is out of business & the bank is now Wells Fargo. I got some great assistance from Wells Fargo and was told the account is 'no longer active'. I'm tempted to call Mrs. Rachel Meyers @ [protected] x1, just to see what happens. I hope Readers Digest & Pepsi are aware that their companies are being used for this scam!

To BillyJo: The only winners are the scammers!

i too received a letter from Readers Digest-Pepsi stating i won a million. i was to call a Ron Pittsfield at [protected] BEFORE i cashed the check for $5, 599.00 i am from Ca. and never entered any contest in my life. i will take this to my bank today and see if they can't investigate. The envelope has no return address but has a Canadian stamp...IS ANYBODY A WINNER?

My mom received a letter from Reader's Digest/Pepsi saying she won too! But it was a different contact person and when she called it said she could not make the call from this phone not sure if it had to do with her phone number being private but she ask me to check on the computer if this was true or a scam and sure enough it was : ( I've loaded some pictures of the letter and check of what my mom received through the mail and it was post mark Canada with a web site; www.Postescanada.ca over the stamp!

I got one today and immediately came to the internet to find out how many others got one too. I never entered a contest so I knew it had to be a scam. Also $5, 599 check printed nicely - and Canada postmark, firm in Texas and Delaware Bank. Must find enough unaware people in the world to make it work for them. My question is - who do we report this to?

Just to add to the info, mine had a plain window envelope in which the "Certificate" was folded, with my name and address. We also live in California. This envelope is run through a US postage meter and not stamped from its origin. Let's all not forget the warning..."Keep this Prize Claim Number and prize Information highly confidential" for your safety and security/" The certificate has a bar code at the bottom. The check for $ 5, 599.00. The check claims to be from a firm in Texas, but drawn on a Delaware bank. It sure seems as if somebody out there is involved in a HUGE fraud. It actually brightened my day for a few minutes until I went to the Internet ! These crooks must be stopped !

MY wife recieved the same letter and check for 5125.00 2 weeks ago was told to call mr rizutton have never been able to get him i believe it is a scam also we also mailed a letter to him will wait to see what happens with it but am going to contact my police dept with it

I too received one of these checks today. It also was sent from Canada. I called the bank, and it was a valid account with the funds available, but no one ever heard of the promotion. I am calling Pepsi in the morning. Pretty good scam that they have going. The only thing I can think of is that they are trying to get people to give bank info or something. I called the number several times that is given and there was no one to answer, I paged still no one returned my call, so I called the bank and they are turning it into security. I faxed the check to them so that they could actually see the check. So sad that some people might deposit and spend some money that they are going to have to make up to the bank. The old addage "If it seems to good to be true it probably is" fits in this situation.

This is too much! My grandma is also the LUCKY winner of $1M and received a check for $5125 "to cover any outstanding fees that have not been paid by Pepsi Co. directly". Her check is written from a bank account in Columbia, NC, with the account holder being NC State County ABC Board. The envelope is postmarked from Canada, with the return address of Chicago, IL; oh, and we live in California. How is it that all of us Californians are so lucky?!

Another website says to send the congratulatory letter to Pepsi for further investigation. That will be taken care of on Monday morning.

My husband got one of the letters and checks from Pepsico and Reader's Digest also. I've been aware of this type of scam for about 6 months, so he's taking it to the police station tomorrow. We could use the money also...they might be targeting people with money problems because they would be the ones to jump at it without checking out the validity of the check.

This also happened to my deceased mother. The check does look very authentic! When taking it to the bank, they assured me that this is a fraud and took the check for further investigating.
Stop scamming others and get a real job!

My sister received the same letter with a check about a month ago, she called & was asked to wire money for taxes so that they can process her $1 million winning. THIS IS A SCAM! we're in the finance business & just wanted to see what will happen and she told the man that the check must clear in her account prior to her sending the money & questioned him about sending the tax fee without receiving the winning prize...he said, well this is why you have our check (THIS WILL DEFINITELY BOUNCE! -IT MAY CLEAR DEPENDING ON YOU ACCOUNT STATUS WITH YOUR BANK BUT IT WILL COME BACK IN WEEKS & THERE'S NO WAY OF TRACING IT OR GOING AFTER THEM) she closed the conversation by telling him that she's not stupit & that this is a SCAM! The guy hung up the phone. NOW MY MOM JUST CAME TO US WITH THE SAME CHECK & LETTER! not knowing that my sister have received the same letter & ck called the number & she said it's an answering manchine with Pepsi co/rep. asking to leave a message with her information. Make your family & friends aware of this SCAM..spread the words! with the economy the way it is, there will be people that may be tempted & fall for this trash!