|
11/10/2008
According to Jessica Tharp, Director of Operations for the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois, the BBB has received a large volume of calls from Central Illinois consumers stating they have received a letter indicating they have won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes or lottery. The problem is, they haven’t. The letter instructs them to deposit an enclosed check to cover processing fees or taxes on their winnings and then send a large portion of the money back. Consumers who have come to the BBB presented checks that appear to be real. Even though the check looks real, it is fake. The BBB has traced these letters back to Canada, Jamaica, Australia, and even Singapore. “There is no legitimate reason someone would send you a check and then ask you to send or wire money in return” says Tharp. The BBB wants to warn Central Illinois about these scams.
It is a violation of federal law to buy or sell tickets to a foreign lottery outside of the United States borders. If th
|