Crime Alert: International Lottery Scams
ATTENTION RESIDENTS
BEWARE OF INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY SCAMS
Dear Residents:
The Creve Coeur area has taken several reports of International Lottery Scams in the past few months. These scams typically target elderly individuals and frequently originate from Canada or Europe. The scammers usually send you a check or offer you money over the phone, but require you to send them a deposit, transaction fee, or “release fee” first. The scammers claim that you will get your money if you send them some first.
While the scammers send you a check in the mail that looks very real, these checks are fraudulent. Your bank may take the check, and make some funds available; however, when the check is found to be a fraud, you are responsible for all the money that you spend, plus penalty fees your bank may charge.
If you are uncomfortable about a special offer you receive, it is probably for a good reason. You should investigate the offer by talking to your family, an attorney, or the police. The scammers are professional thieves and they are very good at what they do. They make their offers very believable, and play on peoples emotions to win their trust. If the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Not only are you victimized by these scams and lose your hard-earned money, but you are also violating Federal Law by participating in these lotteries. The Federal Trade Commission investigates all reports of foreign lottery fraud, and their reports have been sky-rocketing.
Below is a photo copy of an actual check that was mailed to an area resident. It looks authentic, and would pass at a financial institution. However, in a few days, they will find that the check is a fraud, and you will lose money. If you have received one of these checks, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov, or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you believe you have become a victim of an international lottery scam, report it to the police department by calling Officer Phil Lane, 314-872-2540, or Officer Jon McIntosh, 314-442-2075.
For more information on international lottery scams, contact the Federal Trade Commission on the internet at www.ftc.gov, or by calling 1-877-382-4357.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/intlalrt.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/tmarkg/fraud.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/tmarkg/ditch.htm