Article courtesy of Mark R. Taylor.

The letter and the check seen here (click images to enlarge) were received at my business PO Box in Sarasota, FL on 12/18/08 from Toronto Canada.

Regions Bank check scam, the check is counterfeit, but with a good account number, and with cash in the bank, lots of cash.

The company listed, CB Richard Ellis Corp. is Regions Bank's Maintenance Co., this is/was an internal scam directed at Regions Bank.

I could have collected the $3,535.00 today from Regions Bank, the check is good, and if I had done as requested by "Santa's Little Sweepstakes", next step would be to send them $1,800 via Western Union so that I could collect my "big check" for $69,400.

Instead, I went to the Regions Bank on Cattlemen Road in Sarasota, FL on Thursday, 12/18/08 at 2:00 pm and told them I knew of the check fraud scam and I had a counterfeit check drawn on "their Regions business account" and that there were no stops on it, so you better get yourself in gear and shut this scam down right now because I am sure you are going to be flooded with counterfeit checks in the next few hours, it appears they did and they were.

Sweet deal for "Santa's Little Sweepstakes" and Nicolas Stern the listed Claims Director, they collect $1,800.00 from each person who follows their directions, the "patsy" keeps $1,7550.00 and Regions Bank would have paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars that is not going to be collectible.

Checks were sent out by "Santa's Little Sweepstakes" on 12/15/2008, I got mine in Sarasota, FL on 12/18/08 for $3,535.00. I have heard of one check received near Cleveland, Ohio for $3,5350.00 and another one in Fort Lauderdale, FL for the same amount of $3,535.00 and a $3,535.00 check was received in the mail today, 12/19/08, in San Bernardino, California, all with different check numbers (this is the key). A person would only have to walk into the Regions Bank, present the check, show ID, the teller checks the account on the computer, funds available, you get the cash. Regions Bank would not have caught onto the scam until the following days when all the checks roll in from around the USA in the same amount, $3,535.00.

You would think that Regions Bank would at least give me a "thank you" for saving them possibly hundreds of thousands of dollar, so far not a word from the Regions Big Wigs?

The check and letter came in an envelope post marked from Toronto CA, the exact address is; C.P. 3020 Station D, Etobicoke ON, (near Toronto International Airport) M9C 4V5.

This address in Etobicoke ON is also right next to Mississuga ON, where the "Toronto 18 Terrorist" arrests were conducted.