I also received a check and letter but decided to research before calling the number and am i glad i did. How can these people get away with this. People please be aware that nothing comes this easy especially $250,000. Sending a check of this amount in an envelope with no return address should be an automatic alarm. These people should be caught and made to pay everyone and any one they sent one of these checks to for emotional distress.

received the letter in the mail with different claims dept. address. address of 1957 king street, chatham ontario k1p-5r7 , phone no 1-(416) 857-4757. also mrs. brenda hicks as promotion manager. the only truth in this  letter is the line ,( please do not attempt to use this check ).Same MO. Same Scam

Like everyboody ellse I recieved a chack in the amount of $4998 but this time is from
          Swiss Financial Securities INC.
International Claims Department, 200 4th St Midland ONT. L4R 1Y5
             with a phne (905) 783-2559

they change the name amd the amount but thay did not change the promotion manager which is the same name Mary Brown. Isn't this strage not to hunt them down? To me this is the same thing as a terorist does.

The scam made it to ohio...good news, it stops here with us.  thanks to all that posted and gave me the info to see that it was a scam.  didnt even notice the securites spelling error....WHAT A SCAM.

I got a check from Gold Star Securities.  They are going to great lengths to trap people.  It's legitimate check paper and I looked up the bank and called, it is a legitimate account number under the name of Gold Star Securities.  I feel bad for the people who are struggling or going through hard times who would attempt to go through this process to receive funds and miss all the red flags accociated with it.  They are really hitting hard this holiday season as a friend of mine recieved a check to be a secret shopper; I also received an email stating they were the FBI.

THIS IS A SCAM, Got the same letter in the mail and amount of money.