FRAUD ALERT: Sweepstakes Audit Bureau

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Labor Tribune readers are warned that a classic “win millions” prize scam hit mailboxes this week.

The “Sweepstakes Audit Bureau” is “alerting” recipients that they might be eligible for up to $12 million but…. you need to send them $5 so that you “don’t forfeit your right to enter and win sweepstakes cash awards of more than $12 million guaranteed.”

Then in dire tones they add: “…failure to do so may result in your loss of eligibility.”

READ IT CAREFULLY
While an initial reading suggest by filling out the form and sending $5 you are entering a $12 million sweepstakes, careful scrutiny discovers that in reality all that is being offered is to provide a “report” on companies that are offering sweepstakes whose prizes have allegedly gone unclaimed.

The Better Business Bureau gives this an “F” rating, noting the business is NOT accredited.

And in the small print on the form’s reverse, it mentions that they do sell your information to other firms for “marketing purposes.” Scores of complaints online in various fraud alert systems attest to the fact: Readers beware.

 

106 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks! Please continue to help us elderly be aware. They make everything look legitimate and I just can’t trust anyone now. I always look up the name though, after having been scammed but the company caught it.

    • I just received this letter also and luckily I Google about it and read these comments. Thank you because these really helped me.

      • I got one of these letters today 08/26/22 and immediately went and check it on the internet. I know this was a bogus company and I am thinking of forwarding this mail to the FTC for them to get this bogus company

        • For the past couple years I have been sending them the $5.00 to enter in the sweepstakes. I finally got smart today and checked into this. Thank you so much. I wish all these fraud scams could be stopped

    • This is definitely a scam and you have to think how many unlucky people will send them 5 dollars and think they are getting thousands from people

  2. Thank you for this article it’s may 29,2021 and it’s seems they are up to the same old tricks I just rec’d one of these letters.

    • Yes we all need to put these scamming companies out of business!! Facebook, and all the other muiti media companies. Don’t do nothing about it. The FTC, , I don’t think handles these cause
      they ant over the I ternet!!

  3. I just received this notice in the mail today and it read strange to me and so I googled them and came across this article that only confirmed what I was thinking and feeling! Thanks for this article people really need to know this! Five million people give $5 each that’s $25,0000.000

  5. My name is Katherine Defreece I received a sweepstakes data claim form, is this legitimate or is it a scam they want $5.00 so I can enter

  6. I’m very leery when it comes to things like this, someone tried to scam me before, how can I trust yous

  7. I just received a refund remain unclaimed notice price if this is not legit so me send them $5 I need to know if it’s not legit cuz I’m about to send this to the Business Bureau

  8. My comment was about the sweepstakes letter I received, I don’t know if it is a scam or what and then I supposed to send them $5.00 I don’t know

    • ITS A SCAM PEOPLE DONT SEND THEM MONEY…..EVER……EVER. NEVER SEND MONEY IF SAID YOU COULD GET MONEY OTHERWISE WHY WOULD THEY NOT JUST USE THE PRIZE MONEY FOR FEES. SCAM SCAM SCAM ALERT!!!!!

  9. Thank you for this info, I also just received a letter from sweepstakes audit bureau just now, and they want 5.00 processing fee and my signature. Getting all kinds of scam spam calls as well, I do not answer them. I can’t trust anyone, there trying to steal a old women’s money.

    • I just received this kind of letter and thought it was suspicious, I am old, then I said to myself let’s try google see what they have to say and I am glad I did because I was going to send the $5.00. If every body who receive this letter send the $5.00 it become millions and millions of dollars to scammers. What will they try next!!!

  10. Yesterday, I got this type of letter, and the first thing I thought it was an scammer, that’s why I Google and wanted to post a comment. Please be careful don’t trust in this type of letter. Thank you.

  13. Just received a letter too good to be true. Something needs to be done with scanners if not letters, they’re constantly calling your phones thanks

  14. AFTER READING THESE I WONDER NOW ARE OLDER FOLKS THE ONLY ONES GETTING THESE POSTCARDS? OR ARE THERE YOUNGER FOLKS GETTING THEM

    DARN COUNTRY IS ALL FRAUD NOW. I GOT ONE ALMOST LIKE THIS AND IT SAID I HAD WON 12 MILLION BUT HAD TO GO TO TURKEY TO CLAIM IT. MORE FRAUD

    • Nope it younger people as well, I’m not old but I’m not young either. But scam me you will not. Lol if there bring to give you money it’s a scam and if they want your money it’s a scam. Also if they want any info about you it’s most likely a scam. Young or old is not e he at there looking for, it’s the ones who fall for it.

    • I just got scammed so I knew this letter was not true No telling how many People they get 5.00 from a day from it’s so sad that people want to target the elderly but it’s true it really sucks they can’t do anything to them they could stop it I have every name and no that got me and where it was sent to

  15. Yes I had received a letter about the unclaimed 12 million dollars as well I figured it to be a scam but aren’t all them sweepstakes a scam in some way they send emails like this WINNER WINNER HOPE YOUR SITTING DOWN BECAUSE YOU WON IT ALL !!!? Now to me that little question mark I guess is how they legally get by with lieing to so many millions of people every day . Personally I think they’re having a very devastating effect on alot of people’s lives and there should be something done about the deception of the truth. I know we pay taxes for different organizations to police this so you have to ask yourselves exactly what kind of a job are they doing for all these sweeps companies to all be doing it so openly almost like there’s no wory about a fine or anything they can just lie lie lie and nobody is going to fine them . People I think it’s time we ask out political parties about this

  16. Got my notice on Sweepstakes Audit Bureau I live in michigan. It’s crazy I fill out them all the time. It was not until I read this that Ibrealized it was a scam. Thank you for sharing. That’s just way to much to believe so I had to check.

  18. I received the letter from Sweepstakes Audit Bureau yesterday the 16th also had a phone call saying they were Publishers Clearing House saying I had won over 20,000,000 dollars. The person who called knew every thing about PCH. Why don’t these people get a real job. When this man hung up he said “God Bless You” even using God in his scams. I’m surprised PCH doesn’t look into this. I’m also surprised this spot wants my email address and web site. Is this a SCAM?

    • Yes they called me on Thanksgiving day and said it was Bank America and said they wanted to deliver my money on Friday it was lottery sweepstakes first then it was P C H and gave me his name and badge no then gave me his sup and he hung up on me when I wouldn’t give him my Banking info

      • Mail Fraud! I have sent $5. MANY TIMES. AND never hear a word back. What a SCAM! This has got to STOP and should be ILLEGAL. I saved all my paper work throughout the YEARS. Somebody needs to contact a Attorney who will STOP THIS. I feel like such a FOOL!!!

  21. The second I read the word ” just send us 5$” I knew it was a scam. However I looked it up anyway just to show a friend who bless her heart falls for this stuff all the time. She don’t think to Google it or wonder why they would need her money. It’s like the scam are drawn to her.
    I’ve stopped her so many times from being scammed, it’s sad how many will actually fall for this and it’s sad that people do this to others.
    Thank you labortribune. for making it easier to explain and prove the scam at hand to show my friend.

  22. What I don’t understand is the fact that BBB knows that this is a scam, but why is it that the Post office has been able to send out these scam mailings, it’s like because they gain a profit in a way from the scammers by sending all of the sweepstakes letters to the millions of people who fall for it, where are the law makers who can make this a federal crime and have the FBI develop a special task force to combat these scams and the print industry because it not just a dozen copies made on a daily basis. And its actually stealing but looking at how many agencies and companies and government agencies are making a profit from the scammers and the scammed.

  23. just gt one of these mails and decide to check online before responding. Than you this warning has been very helpful.

  27. Thank you for all the great reviews hopefully you going to save a lot of people $5 and I think something could should be done and could be done if they wanted to do something what are they waiting for for them to get enough money so they can bomb us within our our borders

  28. Well here it is December 1st and I’ve received one today in the mail. So all year long I guess they’ve been doing it still. I’m glad I decided to look it up. Thanks for the advice. Sincerely, Sherry

  29. Yea I got a letter from them today saying I won 12.000.000.00to fill out form and to send in 5.00 and my claim form ? So how can they make anything cause I know itcoast more then 5.00 to prent and send all this mail to me makes no sense

  30. I got the letter From the sweepstakes audit bureau at PO Box 549012, Dallas TX 75354–9012.

    Cash eligibility of $12 million. Obviously it’s a hoax I just want to let you know in case you don’t have this address on them.

  32. These people should be found snd get their asses beat because I’m sure some people sent them money and it’s illegal to lie like that because it’s making people Believe that they won even if it is on the back if they didn’t wait it’s gonna be entering into a Sweepstakes Alert they’re gonna information on Sweepstakes but still a liar is a liar and they are thieves and getting their money to dishonest way that means they need to be shut down and stopped , just like our government the way they cheat lie and streak
    Our money …. Can’t take these people anymore!

  34. I just received the same form from Sweepstakes Audit Bureau, Dallas,Tx. What a shame. Got suspicious when form was to be sent to Houston, Tx. SCAM SCAM SCAM

  36. I just got this letter in the mail today. I was offended that they asked for $5 and more upset when I seen they wanted me to pay postage to send them money. They need to hear the song by Marc May “Why Money Ain’t Free”. Thanks for the article.

  37. Scam scam scam look fool me one shame on them fool me twice shame on me the willnot get a third time I just got one in the mail also listen u should never have to pay anything for something u win never ever and I liked to hope if I was wining that much money they would be calling my phone knocking on the door sending telegrams ect if it sounds to good usaul isn’t true be aware of scams and itsnot just elderly all ages race creed no one safe

  42. Today is July 1, 2022 and I just received this notice. Thankfully it seemed too good to be true, so I did a search to find out. Thank you for warning us! Into the trash it goes!

  43. I got this same exact letter in the mail today. It’s from an address in Texas. I looked it up and came across this. I’m pretty sure that if you win an actual sweepstakes you don’t have to pay anything to receive your winnings as this fraud is asking for 5$. They had a place to put your bank information in at or asked for cash. Really, how dumb do they think people are?

  45. I just received FROM. SWEEPSTAKES PROCESSING CENTER. LETTER TO SEND $5.00 there is noway I will send you money. Take it from the money I get.

  46. Wow, I googled and this is what I came up with. Thank you for your information. I will not be responding to their mail.

  48. I just got the same letter that’s not cool America is struggling and to play while I’m intelligent like this y’all need to do something about this really I do I’m glad I read Google’s response and alert frog I pray for the world first I pray for my family all this hacking it destruction and killing and what not I don’t have time for this I’m 26 young and 62 and age that’s not cool God bless you

  50. I received same information in the mail. I wrote a big middle finger on it removed my information on it and sent it back to them with no money and in their prepaid envelope. Hehe!! Also sent copies to Feds

  51. How did they get my name and address in the first place I believe publishers clearing House is selling all our names everybody and collecting money I’m about ready to sue them.

  53. By them only asking for $5 it doesn’t seem like too much to ask for. There is no telling how many $5 they will receive from victims that did do any research on sweepstakes audit bureau.

  54. i GOT A LETTERTHEE SAYS AGO WON 3.5 MILION…..i QUESTIONED THEM…THEY HAD A BANKER N THE GAME (HE GAVE E THENUMBR), THE BANKE SAED THE FACTS EXAACTL AND I CONTINUED TO DRILL THEM WHEN THEY ASK ME FOR $16,000 EACHE WAID THEY WOL TRY TO HELP BU NEEDED TO DO IT N 48 HOURS OR IT WILL BE CANCELLED IT WAS A TOAL OF 7 PEOPLE WO GAVE PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES AND ECH ONE HAD THE STORY…iT SOUNDED REAL BUT I SENT IT TO THE Us /GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THREE DAYS AAO WITH AL THIS INFO THEY WERE EKLESS TO TRY AND I HIPE I LEADS THEM TO THESE GUYS AS WELL AS THOSE…WHEN YOU ASK HOW THEY GET AWAY WITH IT MOS FORGET TO DRILL THEM. THEY WILL OPEN UP FOR THE $5.00 AND OF COURSE $15,000 I OF COUSE DID NOT PAY ANY OF THEM $15,0000, I INSTEAD OFFERED EACH ONE (5) I WOULD GIVE EACH ONE $150.0000 TO PAY FOR ME WHEN IT IS CASHED. tHEY, OF COURSE, SAID IT WAS ILLEGAL. I THINK THEY GAVE ME ALL THE INFO TO CHECK, bANK, bANK PRESIDENT, iTHEN GOT THE $5.000 LETTER. I THINK IF WE PRESSED THEM HARD FOR MOR INFO TOGETHER WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THE GOVT. FIND OUT THROUGH OUR RESEARCH TO PUT THEM DOWN….

  55. I thought this was real. And I sent money into this. Now I am sure this is a scam.
    #1. This envelope keeps coming here all the time, for over two years, with this same amount to win.
    #2. No one ever wins this.
    This is the number one thing to check is why no one wins. Same $12,000,000,00 ALL THE TIME. FOREVER. NOW I THANK YOU Confirming My
    Feeling that something is up. DON’T SEND ANY MONEY.

  59. I’m so tried of scammers. I look everything up. I hope everyone else does the same. But I know that’s not true.
    I only wish their could be a end of this. These people or these scammers are thieves. DON’T LET THEM TAKE YOUR
    MONEY!!!!

  61. I also was sent a claim form processing center from (SWEEPSTAKE AUDIT BUREAU ) asking for $5.00 processing fee . Call publisher clearing house, was told they never ask for money. It’s a Scam, scammed one time . By zelle customer service once. I will always continue to check behind. Can’t afford to take care of scammer.

  62. I got this letter and hoped it was read but even I who have been scammed over and over this past year. I have won nothing and sent out money to way to many creepy lying cameras! This time, my roommate told me to google them and all these letters showed up. Creeps again! Don;t send them money. you won’t win anything from these creeps!
    Elise S

  67. If you send the $5.00 by check they have your account and routing number. They can reproduce the check and you and the bank are in for a lot of problems finding out what happened.

  68. I was born & raised in California but moved to the perfect state @23. I don’t trust anything for free. And now live in the ” SHOW ME STATE”. I DON’T BELIEVE ANYTHING IS GIVEN FOR FREE. UNLESS I SEE IT WITH MY OWN EYES. I RESEARCHED A PIECE OF MAIL I RECEIVED TODAY THAT I WON A $12 MILLION PRIZE. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SIGN AND SEND A ONE TIME RESEARCH AND DATA FEE OF $5 FOR EACH REPORT. MAIL BACK BEFORE 12/17/22. Thank GOD I did look it up cause all its really guaranteeing is the report/s. This day and age $5 to my household is a million bucks.

    To whom ever posted this info, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO!!!!

  72. To all,
    Thank you to all, for taking the time to write telling this is a scram. I received one today and it seems after reading all the notices it has been going on for years.
    How is it still going on and the government has not closed them down? If anyone knows who to report this to , please let us know. I will be happy to do so.

  73. How long is this scam going to be allowed to continue? I just got one of the letters today, January 28, 2023, two years after the first alert published here. Anytime I am asked to send any amount to receive something, I research it. It is ALWAYS a scam. If a person wins something, he/she does not have to pay to receive it. Everyone needs to remember this. They often ask for $1.00 or $1.95 just so they can get your card information to truly rip you off. Never ever give your credit or debit card number, expiration date, and CVV to anyone you don’t know or to any company you are not familiar with. Nowadays you can’t even go by whether or not the website is secure. They know how to fix their websites to make them look official. I am taking a picture of this letter and sending it to DOJ.gov.

  74. Gotten one too same address in Texas that sweepstakes for$ 12, million to claim it I need to know if sand a way track and get them on paperwork that shows, and copy of them receive and if don’t get them my prize then files charges on fraud to stop them? Please there number. Too. 1 888-568-8864 that doesn’t get live person to reply ASAP or message there to leave. This is Bakersfield, CA. Please reply ASAP head courters this text me the company this site only please 661-865-7156

  75. I am receiving a lot of Sweepstakes entries in the mail, and the winning number has already been drawn. I have to return the entry and supposedly a donation to these companies. Donations are not required to enter so they say. Half of the people that receive these entries will toss them in the trash, along with possibly the winner number, so no one wins and they know it, and the company is not out any money, If they waited until the end of the sweepstakes and drew from all who entered, there would be a winner. These companies know what they are doing and they know there are not going to be many winners. I enter sometimes, knowing my chance of winning are very slim. Silly me!

  76. Just received my letter from the Sweepstakes Audit Bureau today. I noticed it had what looked like. QR code to scan but it doesn’t work. That’s when I became suspicious and decided to google this company and found the fraud alert and “f” rating! Just wondered how many states this is going on in? I’m in Idaho.

  77. IF YOI COULD ONLY FIND THE PEOPLE, THAT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND CHARGE THEM
    THE PRIZE MONEIES AND $5. OR JAIL… BE NICE OR!

  78. Yes they’ve been sending me these papers saying that I’m if I don’t send them $5 then I will be uneligible for this 12 million and I sent them $5 once and they just keep sending me the same letter over and over again so I wanted to check to see if it was illegal or if it was a scam of some sort

  79. I like and say is it’s all a bunch of life no sweet steak will ask you for cash not even cents If you don’t believe try looking it up online and you will find out if It’s a true sweet steaks or not good luck people

  80. Got the letter yesterday, googled today Thank You EVERYONE , too good to be True , Nothing is free and if you do win something , you don’t pay taxes or a prize fee unless it is a lottery or door prize, or fund raiser! I call B. S ! Especially pay to win , we’re not in Vegas or a casino! You should not be given a phone call or have to get a cash card or advance payment for P. C . H or any other sweepstakes! Good Luck and God Bless!

  81. Just received one of these mailings today. As soon as I saw they were requesting $5 for “research and data processing fee” my scam radar went off. They ask for cash, check or MO, no CC’s. Then I noticed that the mailing address is a PO box, another tip off. Nope. Not biting.

  84. just got this in the mail just now but not sending them any money or even gonna sign it
    OR send my return address

  85. I thought it very unusual to ask for a $5.00 “processing fee” for my “right” to enter and win $12 million. I wouldn’t have sent it because of that and looked them up. Thank goodness for your Fraud Alert. I’d like to send them an email telling them how sad they are.. even ask if anyone of them would be upset if it happened to someone in their own family.
    Oh well, best if I just stay away from them.

  86. After 3 years they’re still at it I received one of their letters today, May 4, 2023. I was about to respond when I noticed they wanted cash, check, or money order, no credit cards! That set mental alarm bells! Then I Googled them and read only a few of the 83 comments. Thanks to Ra Netta, Shannon, David, et al. They a confirmed my suspicions. They should be proud of themselves and if they initially fell for tge scam not blame themselves..
    If you get one of these letters SHRED IT IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM!
    If you have to P A Y to enter a sweeps, IT’S A SCAM!

  87. Thank goodness I was smart enough to look it up online and saw it was a scam…
    Thank you for the fraud alert !!!

  88. Just received this letter today July 15 2023. What a terrible times that people are stealing from elderly. This must stop !!!!!

  89. I have been playing these sweepstakes for awhile now. I thought it was fun. Until they started spelling my name all wrong, even if they give you options to correct it. And give up 5$ to process the unclaimed form. Sending the form back to them., Before the deadline. Just notice how there’s was another sweepstakes Audit Bureau in the mailbox after sending them .that one. This document is green an white, bluish looking paper. The other paper sent to me was misspelled my name again. But didn’t have any option to correct my information. ,This paper seems a little off, about it. Oh well, it’s a scam or I just gave up 10$ to send on these audit bureau sweepstakes. That’s why it’s only make you feel like. Disappointed and let down . It’s not fun anymore.

  90. Thank you so much for this information I will never send another dollar this year alone they got me at least five times but never again I’m on a fixed income and I can’t keep giving my money away

  92. I must admit that even reading the comments from others, I still want to believe it’s not true that it’s a scam. Yikes!

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