ELYRIA, Ohio — Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake are warning the public of a second fraudulent sweepstakes that has appropriated the companies’ identities.

Working with law enforcement officials, the companies have uncovered the second scam in less than a month to distribute prize letters and fake checks to consumers.

The companies – which first warned its employees, customers, and other consumers about an initial fraudulent sweepstakes scam on March 24 – has now been alerted to a second round of similar fraudulent activity. The parties responsible for the second scam distributed award letters and fake checks to consumers through the U.S. Mail, claiming recipients were winners of a global monthly sweepstakes.

The letter provides a phony reference number relating to the claim and urges recipients to cash the enclosed checks and call a non-Bendix number to find out how to claim the remainder of their monetary prize.

The number of consumers who have received the letters is unknown, but Bendix confirms that individuals from across the United States have reported receiving the fraudulent sweepstakes mailing. Recipients are not limited to those in the commercial vehicle industry in which the companies do business.

The latest fraudulent checks include both the Bendix and Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake logos and display the “Mellon Bank” name. The checks accompany letters printed on fake letterhead for “Asus Financial Inc.,” a company that does not exist.