Free Sweepstakes and Contests

Sweepstake Scam

The letters claim to be from lottery and sweepstake companies in Novia Scotia and Britain. They say the recipient has won a large sum of money, but in order to collect their winnings the victim must send the company a money order to cover fees and taxes.

WPD spokesperson Linda Rawley said, ”Understand that there is no easy money, there is always a catch, and in this case it is so sad because these individuals were taken advantage of.”

Authorities say if you get a letter like this in the mail do some
investigating before you send in any money and call your local law enforcement office to alert them

Sweepstake Award Check

The letter had all the earmarks of a sweepstake scam except one: There doesn’t seem to be a catch.

Last week a Paterson woman received a letter from the Bank of Montreal, along with a check for $4,700, as the first part of her “international sweeps take prize.” Yes, “sweepstake” was written as two words, the first indication that something was not legit.

Other hints appeared throughout, starting with the fact that the letter came from Canada, where many sweepstake scams originate

Sweepstake Scam

Lottery and sweepstake fraud take several forms..

Phony Sweepstakes

AG Reilly issued the letters to Massachusetts consumers who sent personal information, and in some cases, money responding to a mailing advertising a phony sweepstakes or promotion. The letters, sent to an address in Clives, Iowa, were seized last year by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and the names of Massachusetts consumers were forwarded to AG Reilly.

“The Iowa Attorney General and I both believe that the original mailing that you responded to was an attempt to identify and locate people who could later be targeted by phony telemarketers and other con-artists,” AG Reilly wrote. “These phony telemarketers and con-artists would have called you, claiming that you had won a sweepstake, lottery, or other prize, or that you are entitled to a government payout or some unexpected inheritance.”

AG Reilly added, “Be warned – everything these people tell you is FALSE – it is all part of a scam to steal your money. Usually, these scammers are outside the United States, and almost impossible to find.”

AG Reilly offers the following advice to consumers about phony sweepstakes or promotions:

Fake Sweepstake Check

Citizens in Andalusia have reported receiving letters from the “The Winners Management and Payment Centre” and checks from an AEDC Federal Credit
Union.

According to Sgt. Alice Donaldson of the Andalusia Police Department, this is a scam and warns citizens to not taken in.

The letter states that the North American States and Provinces Gaming Association Prize
Pool released their winning ticket numbers, and due to a “setback” in their computer system notification was delayed. As a result, the winner is being notified with a letter and what appears to be a valid check.