Small Town News

Financial scam artists work on the holidays using lottery trick

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Local consumers may think they've won a holiday jackpot when they receive a telephone call claiming they've won a foreign lottery and the caller offers to send a check -- just in time for the holidays.

BBB in Yavapai County has received an increasing number of calls from local consumers stating they have received phone calls from individuals, often with a foreign accent, claiming the consumer has won a lottery.

Some consumers also report the caller states he will personally deliver the winnings, according to a press release.

Consumers are instructed to deposit the check and to then wire funds immediately to the company's agent, usually in Canada or the Caribbean.

The consumer has not won a lottery and the check is fake

generally stolen or counterfeit. Some consumers report the caller promises delivery of winnings right to their door as soon as the wired funds are received.

Scammers use fake checks in check overpayment scams and secret shopper scams.

Scam artists who use these schemes can easily avoid detection.

If funds are sent through wire transfers, generally it is difficult for the sender and law enforcement to locate the recipient or to retrieve wired funds.

Protect yourself from fake check scams:

Discard any offer that asks you to pay for prize winnings or a gift.

If it came through the mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspections, Mail Fraud, at (877) 876-2455.

Resist any pressure to act immediately.

Although it is unlikely that someone would come to a residence. If an unknown person, claiming to deliver winnings should come to your door, contact your local law enforcement.

Be aware that just because the funds are available on a check you've deposited, it does not mean the check is legitimate. Check forgeries can take weeks to be discovered.

Never wire money to strangers -- whether it be to claim lottery winnings, as part of a secret shopper job, or as a refund for check overpayment.

For more information, call (928) 772-3410.



Copyright 2009 Sedona Red Rock News, Sedona, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Sedona Red Rock News Sedona, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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