On February 13, 2009, a Takoma Park Police Officer took a theft scheme report from an elderly victim who resides in Takoma Park, Maryland. The victim received a letter from a fraudulent company called “IRG” which advised that he was the winner of a $1,605,578.67 sweepstakes. The victim telephoned the phone number provided and spoke with who he thought was a claim representative. The suspect instructed the victim to wire $350 via Western Union in order to qualify for the alleged lottery money. The victim sent the money but never received the alleged winnings. The victim called the number again and was instructed to send additional funds to qualify. The victim sent over $1,000 before realizing that he was the victim of a theft scheme. The money was sent to an address in Jamaica.
Many scams can include bogus prize offers, like the one referenced above, or phone travel packages, phony charities, or get-rich-quick investment schemes. Please take note of the following regarding lottery scams:
- You don't win lotteries you didn't enter.
- If lottery winnings seem "to good to be true," they probably are.
- Beware of lotteries that charge a fee or taxes that you must pay first before delivery of a prize, or any pressure to “act now” or the offer will expire.
- Beware of demands to send additional fees for future or additional winnings.
- Be cautious when dealing with persons from outside of the United States.
- Learn how to say NO. Ask that information be sent by mail to give you time to check it out.
- Appoint a friend or relative as your "financial adviser" and tell callers you have to run any opportunities by your adviser before signing up.
- Put your name on the national do-not-call registry. Telephone numbers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry will remain on it permanently due to the Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007, which became law in February 2008. To register your phone number, go to www.donotcall.gov and follow the instructions.
Posted by Plevy at February 15, 2009 07:36 PM