I have received a letter from America Capital Direct Lottery Syndicates telling me that I have won money in the USA Mega Millions lottery. They also sent along a check for money to cover taxes, insurance, handling and shipping fees.

I suspect that this is a scam, but I am trying to verify that it is.

I would appreciate any information you may have about this number.

One year ago my mother, who has been a repeated target of scam artists, received a letter from "American Grand Prize Winners" telling her that she had won $250,000 inthe USA MEGA MILLIONS drawing and sent her a check for approximately $5,000 to cover taxes, insurance, handling and shipping fees.  But the check was from Intsel Steel West LLC dba STEELCO.  This is a real company, but they are in the steel business and have nothing to do with a lottery.  This same phone number was on the letter.

Here's what would probably happen if you called them.  They would tell you that you have to pay for the shipping, handling, and insurance to receive your prize, but that you can deposit the check, keep part of the check to pay the taxes later, in our case about $3,000, and send them $2,000 for the shipping, etc.  So you write them a check for $2,000 thinking that even if something goes wrong you're still $3,000 ahead.  Then a week later your bank calls and tells you that the check you deposited is a forgery.  By this time they have cashed your valid check and disappeared with the money.