D.R.D Award Payment Data Release review: Scam 48

Received a letter stating that I won $1400, 000.00, I just had to send a check for $19.99

I get these all the time. When I first started getting them I was really excited and I can't tell you how many times I have sent $9.95 and $19.99 and only received a Sweepstakes Report. This report is in booklet form and it has a listing of different Sweepstakes. Don't know if they were real or not; I only know that I have yet to win anything.

I stopped sending money over 3 years ago, but they still send me these "Document of Award Payment Data Release Division" notices.

There are so many Scams going on. I get phones calls all the time telling me I've won Millions of dollars, all I have to do is pay the Shipping and Handling or the Insurance Fee.

I DO NOT FALL FOR THE SCAMS ANY MORE!

Thank you for your comments.

I have found out that I have a terminal cancer that has no known cure. I have two young children and a loving husband, this letter sounded great, I would be able to do so much with my family. I can't beleive people pray on innocent victims like that. We have enough things going on in our lives to get our hopes up for these unsightly men and women that can harm people like this. I'm glad that there are still honest people in this world that post about scams, this way we can besure before we become another victim. I especialy cannot afford to be taken by scams, my financial sittuation is enough turmoil due to my medical expenses. Thank you once again for posting about this scam, and having these websites to go on to find out what is true and not.

I just got a letter from this company today in the mail. I opened it and read it very carefully, and as soon as I saw the $19.99 "fee" I knew then and there it is a scam and didn't need to read the rest of the letter.

I read online somewhere a few years ago that one of the red flags of a sweepstakes scam such as this is when they ask for money or "processesing fees".

I went online and sure enough there are complaints about them. My advice to others that if it's too good to be true, then it probably is. Read everything carefully, double-check the company with BBB, FTC, complaintsboard.com, etc.

He is still sending these very official looking scams out only instead of Jericho NY he is now using an East Meadow NY PO box. The first clue to this being a scam is it does not list who the sweepstakes / contest is from. The second clue is he is asking for a payment. Do not be fooled by this type of scam. I fell for it in the past and have learned that all they do is take your money and run.

05/09/09

I too received a letter from Robert Richards on 4/16/09 - I had won $1, 4000, 000.00 and I was to send $19.99 - I just sent back the "Pending Money Transfer Form" (why should I have to pay for something I'd already won?). But that's not the end of the story. Today I received a letter from Director Jason Roberts from "The Reporting Center" - I had won $852, 000.00, but there had been a serious mistake made (on my part). They received my Order of Authorization for the delivery of the cash award (CONFIRMED) - I just hadn't sent the requested $19.99 fee along with the Order of Authorization, so, to quote them, "However, because we did not receive the required $19.99 Report fee along with the Authorization, your opportunity to receive the available Prize Payments has been temporarily placed On Hold." It gets better. I checked both letters and guess what? - both letters are from the same P.O. box number 9035, Jericho, NY 11735 - how ironic! Coincidence - I think not. These scammers should be put in front of a firing squad and shot.

Naoma (Philadelphia)

I also recieved a letter today 5/17/09. It also is from Robert Richards /Prize Announcer.This is a horrible scam.I also new right away when it asked me to send $19.99 a data release fee, the only one time fee.According to my letter I also won $1, 400, 000.00.Not everyone knows not to send money.There are people out there that are in the position that myself and my husband are in.My husband recently got very sick and had to have a liver transplant, unfortunatly that means someone has to be with him for months after.Recovery time is long.There for you get behind on your morgage and other bills, some people may believe these people and send there last $20.00 thinking all there problems are solved.You are right these people should be punnished for what they do to people.

Lynn (Arizona)

I got one, mailing it back in, without any money, but with a letter, telling them I know it is a fraud and if I get anymore from them it will find out who they are they will get caught, if I won that much, take the 20.00 out of the 1.4 million.

I recieved a letter from this company stating I had won 1, 400, 000.. At first I was really excited about it, but the more I thought about it the more madder I got.. It had said to send in 19.99, so I did.. Bou was that stupid on my part.. It is also strange how there is no address or phone number on this letter. If I actually won, take it out of the million.
Alecia (Oklahoma)

A friend of mine just brought over this same letter today, with his money order to send in the payment. Of course, he thought he had won! He is a man fighting terminal cancer, kidney failure...and has a spirit that resonates with everyone he meets. In fact, we are shooting a documentary film, Frank's Fight. Never Give Up. No matter what. You can imagine how excited he was to think he had won this prize. Thank goodness for this site to inform us that it's a scam. We are very upset that this is even allowed to come through the mail. You would think, that we could control something like this and not affect innocent people.

I rECEIVED A LETTER ALSO ASKING FOR $19.99. I ALMOST SENT IT OFF UNTILL I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET & FOUND OUT IT WAS A SCAM. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE., & I SURE COULD HAVE USED THE MONEY ABOUT RIGHT NOW. BUT NOW ISN'T THE TIME TO GET SCAMMED. SO THE PAPERS WILL GO IN THE SHREDDER MACHINE. GLENDA FROM OKLAHOMA

I RECEIVED A LETTER ALSO ASKING FOR $19.99. I ALMOST SENT IT OFF UNTILL I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET & FOUND OUT IT WAS A SCAM. I JUST SAVED MY SELF 20 BUCKS. GLENDA FROM BARNSDALL, OKLA

i have just got the same and i am glad that i looked it up before doing anything so thank you guys for this.

As a wife, mother, and grandmother of eighteen..receiving this notification in the mail, was just too good to be true. Although I gave my sons all heck about the computer, I found that it has saved me today. Mr. Robert Richards (of course we know that is not a real name), you have/had a mother and like us she has suffered behind you. Thanks to all of you who reported this SCAM. Some are so happy to win anything they do not really read the notice on the back of the first page. No one has to pay a fee for winning, unless it is to the IRS..
I am grateful for you all and the fact that you shared this.

G. Zinnerman from Texas

Have you ever bought something from AS Seen on TV sites? THAT IS IT! Accidentally I misspelled my name when I ordered an item to them. After then I receive a lot of rip off phone calls and letters using my incorrect name including this letter "certificate claiming a payment award for $1, 400, 000 if I mailed them a check for $19.99". Be aware and don't trust As Seen on TV sites.

This is almost comical I am in Florida we received our letter today announcing the big win and how to send them a check for 19.95 with the check. I am just amazed that the federal attorneys from Nassau County in NY can't shut this place down. Years ago they were so dynamic at catching stuff like this--isn't there a young attorney somewhere? How about NY attorney general--Cuomo He has more brains than any of them maybe he can shut the place down. Please Andy..for the sake of all the old people down here that fall for this--

I am sending mine back with just the paperwork and no stamp then it will cost them 43 cents for everyone that does this.

I was sent a letter in the mail first from the Prize Information Bureau which I believe is a corrupt scam artist company who works with their Partners In Crime the Awards Data Release Division. I was sent a notice in the mail that said I was a confirmed and verified recipient of cash/prize opportunities totaling over 3 million dollars and all I had to do was send them a 20 dollar transfer fee to claim my money.Well me being young and nieve and not researching them first I went ahead and sent the money to PIB. Five days later I received a letter from Awards Data Release Division with a legit looking letter and it said once I sent my signed document I would have 100% access to the 1.4 million dollars.What a bunch of B.S***! Well after coming to my senses I looked more closely at the phony letter and on the back of the letter it said "You have not won any money or prize." and "This is not a sweepstakes or an award notification." Their letter is totally contradictory because on the front of the letter it said I won and on the disclaimer it said I didnt.They are fraudulent ###s who need to get a real career and stop taking money from innocent people. In their disclaimer they also say that PIB and ADRD are held harmless for their reports read by people. I beleive in karma and they will get their payback. I hope the law catches up to them low life suckers! I sent them a very nasty letter and demanded a refund and if they dont give me back my money they will be in trouble. Savannah

I have now received "prize award notification" letters from three different scamming companies! They all want $20.00 (or $19.99) as a processing fee. Thank God for the internet, or more people would fall for this than actually do.

I just received this is as well...figured it was to good to be true! If it looks like crap...smells like crap...chances are it is a big pile of it! I think if it was a legitimate award...papers would have come via certified mail...or fed ex.

There is a way to stop this...There are laws out there if the people can be caught. Now why can't our USPS investigate the PO Box Holder? Maybe it is time to bring them into this. Mail Fraud is a serious offense.

There is an address to send the payment to:

ISSUANCE OFFICE
Proceedings Director
P.O. Box 9000
East Meadow, NY [protected]

Am I the first person to consider going after these ###?

I just received this letter/notification and decided to check out this company on the web. What scam! So, instead of the $19.99, I printed all of these comments, stuck them in their returned envelope and mailed them off. If everyone did this, they would have to open a lot of envelopes before they ever found a check. I must admit I was tempted to add some obscene comment to them, but didn't.

I just received this same letter! I'm so glad I checked this out on the web. The request to send money was a big tip off! I've listened to Clark Howard enough to know that if you truly win something, you will NOT be asked to send any money. These people need to be stopped! I sure could use the money and I'm sure there are many people who need money right now and would be very tempted to do this. SHAME ON THEM! I HOPE THEY ROT IN HELL!

I just got the same letter from The Award Payment Data Release Division. Oh, yeah, right, send us your last 19.99 and we'll give you a whoopin' 1, 400, 000 dollars and save you from your misery. These guys ought to be hung for trying to scam a widow with two kids in this economy! Who can stop all this scamming going on? Its bad enough going through your e-mail but to get it in the U.S. mail is just Deeppressing! I hope someone can do something to these ###. ( I'm trying to be nice here.) thppt!

I just received this document letter telling me that I had won One Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars, from guess who? You got it Robert Richards and he still wants $19.99. I am going to take this letter to the P.O. tomorrow and see if he can be caught for mail fraud! He has move from Jericho, New York to East Meadow, NY.
It's funny that he has been getting away with this for over 2 years. Maybe we should band together and sue. I'm sure there is some way to find out who he is for sure.

Joy from, Fl

I am very happy I took the time to look this up on the internet. I received the same letter today and although it would be nice to win that much money, it has to be a scam if I have to send money to win it. Thanks to everyone for posting their experiences, without them, I may have fallen for this as well.

I also received a letter from DRD and I knew immediately it was a scam. Why should you have to pay to receive an award. They misspelled the work completed (compelted) also, on the page you are to sign and send back it stated that "I AM ONLY REQUIRED ONLY". Come on, if you are going to try to scam people, learn how to spell and write youR sentences correctly. I am sending mine back with no money but a not so nice comment written across the page.

Thanks to all who reporte d this Award Pymnt Data Release Div., I am 51 yrs, old disabled now after a serious spinal injury, I could not believe that this 1 million400 thousand dollar award in my name all i needed to do is sign my signature and send them 19.99, so I thank the Good Lord Jesus had me check the internet to see if this could really be real, but this is the biggest scam I HAVE EVER SEEN AND I HOPE WHO EVER ROBERT RICHARDS IS, BELIEVES IN JESUS BECAUSE HE SAID THOW SHALT NOT STEAL, So if he checks this I pray that he repents and sends back all the money he has recieved from the from innocent people, he returns. Thank You for the honest people here to alert others of this fruad.

My husband and I just received a letter today April 16th 2010 from the Data Release Division Stating that we won 1.4 million dollars all we had to do was send $19.99 and a signed release form to claim our money. We really think that it is horrible for this money to get peoples hopes up thinking that they had won. Imagine if this was sent to a family that was in desperate need of the money because won of their kids are deathly sick, or that a loved won will die if they don't get the medical attention they need but not all of can afford. It gives them a since of hope and it is wrong to be that cold hearted and and be a sorry s*n of a B***h and ask for peoples money this guy should be sue for everything he's got and show him a since of hope that he might get out of jail and then take that from him.

my name is tarcha and i live in houston tx and i was just sent a letter from this company stating that i had won one million nine hundred thousand dollars from claims department and i went online immedately to research this company background to see if it is a scam and it turns out that this company is a scam and i think that it's a shame for these kind of scam artist to pray on the poor people intentions like that there ought to be a law that premits this kind of thing from going on because people that don't know about scams will get taking advantage of if they don't know that these kind of people exsit in the world that way it there is ever a company that is legit people won't be afraid to apply to it people like this make busisness hard for other real company

well im really glad my mom has a computer so i could research the jericho, new york address. recieved the award letter last nite n i guess i was stupid enough to belive this crap cause my kids were there when i was reading the letter. we were all so excited. i am a single mother of four teenage children. i get no help from my exhusband whatsoever, so i have struggled to support my family for many years so when a person in a situation like mine reads a letter like this that looks pretty official, u cant help but hope that your finicial worries r over. whats worse is i could have given my mother a heart attack when i told her. i cant believe that this guy is not in prison for this sh@#. ive worked extremely hard for everything i have (it aint alot) but i believe in makin an honest livin and i think this guy or group of people pulling this scam should be ashamed to look at themselves in the mirror everyday. i mean how could u sleep at nite? im a firm believer in what goes around comes around. screwin people over will come back n bite them n the [censor].

July 16-2010 and the same company is circulating them again. I got my first one and was skeptical. BEWARE everyone.

I have received 2 of these letters in the past week both stateing the same thing just different prize amounts. different addresses in new york and one has Robert Richards on it the other has John A. Fulcrom and Wendy Hamiltons names. I knew right off the bat it was a hoax just becuase of the whole send us this and THEN we will send u the money. But it REALLY gets you thinkin ... What if its not a hoax and is it true? Could I actually have money for once and fill some of my families dreams? Yes these people need to PAY for what they are Doing! Im really happy that I decided to look on the internet to completly confirm that it is a hoax!

I just recieved the same letter described in the rest of these posts. The first post on this blog is from December of 2008. It's sad to think that this is still going on, its been almost 2 years now and i guess this guy is still sending these letters. He must be making money too cause it cant be cheap to print all of these. It was very easy to look this up online and find out its a scam, so i guess if you're too lazy to do that before you send the money then you deserve to get scamed. Its a tough world out there, you gotta be smart.

No! no one has sent the money to find out if it is true or not.
I think, no i'm going to send the money to find out for certain.
You can beat a failure with a try. So since i can afford the money
i will send the money; to see if it's real or fake.
If its fake, i'm a do wat i got to do to teach a person
about decieving good people.

I just received a letter exactly like the ones everyone else mentioned. I read it three times. There is no name on the envelope so i used google and typed in the address. Thank God for everyone's complaints. Had i not used the internet to find the truth, i might have ended up being a sucker too.

My huband and I have just recived one of these fruds and I think it is sick how people pray on those who are hurting from the economy, old folks, and nieve souls! How sad, I hope what you sick people mean for evil God will turn it around to his glory! Praise the Lord!

i too agree with these comments. there should be a law. i got the same letter stating the same garbage. asking for $19.99, to pay for me to win $1, 400, 000.00. thank you and i hope justice prevails. sincerely, helen nickens email address heljacnic1@ yahoo.com

We are an elderly couple that received this scam letter today.I read it twice, than got on the computer
and found this site. Thankyou so much for the answers I suspected.At first it sounded like a way out of our delema.My husband suffers with reoccuring bladder cancer, we lost a great business deal due to the economy, it was our only source of income.Our home went into forecosure and nobody wants to hire a 73 yr. old and a 68 yr. old.We are hanging on by the skin of our teeth day to day.This big stupid jerk plays off people like us. I pray he gets to end this fraud, and that noone else falls for his greed. Thanx, C.M.F.
He is the CREEP of all CREEPS..

HOW MUCH YOU WANT A BET THAT YOU WOULD HEAR FROM THESE [censor]S AGAIN IF YOU SENT THEM A WORTHLESS CHECK.This guy would use every legal means at his disposal to collect a bad check and fees associated We send some fake checks bet he gets law enforcement envolved quick.the sad thing about law enforcement is you stand a better chance of faceing criminal charges for writing a hot check then this [censor] ever will for stealing your money sincerly reece in denton tx

I received the Award Payment letter today. Like many others my wife and I have had financial hard times. This is the second letter I received, the last was from Ft. Lauderdale, FL [protected]. That one was for $977, 997.00 not the
$1, 400, 000.00 from East Meadow, Ny. What has happened to our laws in the Justice system. Has mail fraud been written out somehow. How many people do they have to scam before someone in power reacts. I am sure there is a special place in Hell resurved for the likes of these thieves. I am glad that they didn't get any money from us, but how many poor souls fell for their game.