Arizona – Bagdad Residents Receive Canadian Lottery Scam Letter
By admin • Sep 5th, 2008 • Category: NewsDISCLAIMER - Any Charges Reported in these Press Releases are Merely Accusations and the Defendants are Presumed Innocent Unless and Until Proven Guilty.
On September 2, 2008, a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a report of mail fraud in Bagdad. The resident provided a letter along with a check received in the mail from a company claiming she had won a large amount of money in a Canadian lottery.
The check amount was written for $3985.00 and the “winner” is told that this amount was deducted from the larger winnings, usually quoted in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and is necessary to help cover taxes. In this case, the “winner” was asked to deposit the check and wire $3000.00 back to the company for taxes. Another resident in Bagdad recently received the same letter and check.
This resident contacted her bank and confirmed the account number on the check was valid and funds were available. She deposited the check, but because she was suspicious, she waited for the check to clear the originating bank before wiring any money. Sure enough, after three days, the check had been cancelled and the funds withdrawn.
In some cases reported around the country, the lottery check received is fraudulent and the scammer’s intent is to have victims deposit the check, and wire money back to the “company” before the bank becomes aware of the fake check. In these cases, the account holder is responsible for the loss from the fraudulent check.
YCSO reminds anyone receiving these letters that this is a scam. As always, don’t fall for promises of big winnings, beware of anyone pressuring you to make a snap decision and ignore offers to buy tickets for foreign lotteries. They are illegal, unless you personally travel to that country to purchase them.
You should never pay up-front fees or taxes for unidentified investment opportunities or prize promotions. If you’ve actually won, you shouldn’t have to pay anything up-front. Foreign lotteries and investment schemes often target the elderly and others who have actively responded to sweepstakes promotions. Getting a victim’s money back is extremely difficult and the loss can be avoided by simply ignoring these scam letters.
YAVAPAI COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
255 East Gurley Street
Prescott, Arizona 86301
Media Relations Office
(928)771-3275
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at
(928) 771-3260 or the YCSO website: www.ycsoaz.gov
September 5, 2008
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