Lottery News and Stories
Lottery scam reported
Sunday, March 05, 2006 posted 02:24 AM EST
State police at Newport are warning residents about a phony lottery mailing that asks residents to cash a $2,850 check.
Recipients are receiving an official-looking letter from the “Australian International Lotto” telling them they have
won up to $95,000. A “tax clearance fee” check for $2,850 is enclosed and recipients are told to deposit the money and
then call a winning agent in Montreal.
That phone number is always busy, police say.
Bank mentioned
The letter may have a return address of Quebec, Canada, and advises recipients in bold print to “keep your winnings strictly
confidential so unauthorized organizations do not contact you.”
The check may have Wachovia Bank, Chapel Hill, N.C., and Minerals Technologies Inc./The Chrysler Building, New York, N.Y.,
printed on it.
While the check looks authentic, police warn that it is not and recipients should not cash the check.
The Federal Trade Commission warns anyone receiving a letter claiming they have won a big prize in a foreign lottery not
to pay any money — it is a scam. The FTC also reminds U.S. consumers that participating in a foreign lottery is illegal.
An FTC Consumer Alert, “International Lottery Scams,” which is available online at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/intlalrt.htm,
explains the dangers of foreign lottery fraud and provides tips to prevent consumers from being duped.
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