411 New York

NEW YORK (OCN) — Is a scam brewing from Canada and the State of New York? Well, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck then it must be.

So far we have noticed that a lot of people are searching for a specific PO Box (PO Box 49 to be exact) and a street address on Trade Court. The Contacts below are different as you can see but the address is virtually the same.

Markham, Donnelly & Associates
PO Box 49
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-0049

Monetary Control Office
PO Box 49
Ronkonkoma, NY 11716-0049

So far, one person mentioned receiving a letter stating sweepstakes of US$2,100,000 while another with US$400,000 with the contact address below.

Monetary Control Office
90 Trade Zone Court
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7369

The address is valid but actually a former address for Perfect Image Printing Equipment, Inc.

We started to look for the address on the internet and received a few from readers who saw this and our other articles and came up with the following.

Winterthur Asset Company
90 Trade Zone Court
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7369

Winterthur Asset Company
PO Box 294
Lake Grove, NY 11755-0294

So far that is two three business with one using two addresses. So why is the info being sent? Investigation reveals it is for credit card fraud and identity theft.

The next time you receive a letter, keep these tips in mind.

1. Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay or buy something to enter or improve your chances of winning, or to pay “taxes” or “shipping and handling charges” to get your prize. If you have to pay to receive your “prize,” it’s not a prize at all.
2. Sponsors of legitimate contests identify themselves prominently; fraudulent promoters are more likely to downplay their identities. Legitimate promoters also provide you with an address or toll-free phone numbers so you can ask that your name be removed from their mailing list.
3. Bona fide offers clearly disclose the terms and conditions of the promotion in plain English, including rules, entry procedures, and usually, the odds of winning.
4. It’s highly unlikely that you’ve won a “big” prize if your notification was mailed by bulk rate. Check the postmark on the envelope or postcard. Also be suspicious of telemarketers who say you’ve won a contest you can’t remember entering.
5. Fraudulent promoters might instruct you to send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier to enter a contest or claim your “prize.” This is a favorite ploy for con artists because it lets them take your money fast, before you realize you’ve been cheated.
6. Disreputable companies sometimes use a variation of an official or nationally recognized name to give you confidence in their offers. Don’t be deceived by these “look-alikes.” It’s illegal for a promoter to misrepresent an affiliation with — or an endorsement by — a government agency or other well-known organization.
7. It’s important to read any written solicitation you receive carefully. Pay particularly close attention to the fine print. Remember the old adage that “the devil is in the details.”
8. Agreeing to attend a sales meeting just to win an “expensive” prize is likely to subject you to a high-pressure sales pitch.
9. Signing up for a sweepstakes at a public location or event, through a publication or online might subject you to unscrupulous prize promotion tactics. You also might run the risk of having your personal information sold or shared with other marketers who later deluge you with offers and advertising.
10. Some contest promoters use a toll-free “800″ number that directs you to dial a pay-per-call “900″ number. Charges for calls to “900″ numbers may be very high.
11. Disclosing your checking account or credit card account number over the phone in response to a sweepstakes promotion — or for any reason other than to buy the product or service being sold — is a sure-fire way to get scammed in the future.
12. Your local Better Business Bureau and your state or local consumer protection office can help you check out a sweepstakes promoter’s reputation. Be aware, however, that many questionable prize promotion companies don’t stay in one place long enough to establish a track record, and the absence of complaints doesn’t necessarily mean the offer is legitimate.

If you have additional addresses or information to add or a copy of the scammers letter being sent, you can send them to us and we will add them below. Your personal information will not be saved or revealed and the tips could be a benefit to others as this is now for you.

Related Names:
Hamilton Financial
Financial Security Services
Financial Safety Services
NME Prize Disbursement
North America Property Exchange
Security Services Limited (Security Services LTD)

Related Numbers:
1-800-687-9411
1-866-873-1520

Below are countries where readers have reported receiving contact by one or multiple contacts listed above.

Affected Countries:
Australia
England
Canada
China
Croatia
Finland
France
Greece
Indonesia
Israel
Ireland
Jordan
Latvia
Korea
Malaysia
Malta
New Zealand
Panama
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Russia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweeden
Tel Aviv
Thailand
Trinidad And Tobago
United States
Yugoslav