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I got a letter in the mail from 'The ATP Financial Group' saying that I had won a random exclusive sweepstakes ballot, and the prize was $47, 000.00! They included a pre-filled check for $3, 000.00. This meant for the expense such as admin and transfer fees for this ordeal. The main reason I'm posting about it here is because I want to know for sure sure whether it's a scam or not. The ATP Financial Group seems pretty professional, but you can never be too sure. Let me know?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
This is a well known scam. Google "ATP Financial Group" and you will see site after site talking about the scam. Here is a lawyers response to another consumer who asked the same question you have about this check...
"THIS IS A SCAM. DO NOT DEPOSIT THE CHECK. This is actually a common scam where the scammer directs the unsuspecting victim to deposit a fake check in the victim's account and then withdraws the money to pay the scammer. Because most banks will make check available within days, the fake check will not be detected in time before the victim withdraws the money to pay the scammer. Once the fake check finally makes it through the check clearing system, the check will be discovered for what it is: a fake. The check will be sent back to the victim's bank and the victim's bank will debit the victim's account and the victim will be left to pay the shortage for the amount of check that he withdrew if he does not have enough balance in his account to cover the fake check. The victim is in short paying the scammer for the scam. Click here to go to the FBI's web site to read about some of these scams:"
It's a scam, you've never heard of the ATP Financial Group. You're not supposed to have to pay for winning something. If it was a legitimate company, it would be licensed and very popular. The fact that the ATP Financial Group is not well renown, and it doesn't sound licensed is more than enough for me to say that it is a scam.