Clark, Perdue & List's Blog

The blog for Columbus Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers and Litigation Attorneys, Clark, Perdue & List.

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Lottery Scams

In 2006, the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org) reports that it received nearly 8,200 consumer inquiries concerning foreign lottery scams, a 14% increase from the previous year. In many instances, the lottery notification is accompanied by a check or money order and instructions directing the recipient to deposit the money and to wire transfer all or part of it back to the company for the payment of fees or taxes before the individual can receive the winnings.

Recognizing that even in cases where no money is requested, providing an ID or bank account details to unknowns places a consumer at great risk for identity theft and fraudulent use of bank accounts, the BBB offers the following tips to help identify a lottery scam:

If you receive notice of winnings by regular or e-mail, chances are that it is fraudulent, since legitimate lottery companies usually send notices by certified mail, Federal Express, UPS or DHL. If you have played the lottery online, however, you may be notified by e-mail. But, you still need to log into your account to check your winnings and to choose whether you want to be paid by check, or by a credit to your credit card.
Look to see whether the notice appears to come from another country. Some of the fraudulent outfits operate under names often derived from well-known lotteries in other countries. Contact the BBB if you receive notice that you are a winner of a foreign lottery. It is illegal in this country to participate in a foreign lottery by U.S. mail.
If you are sent a check or money order along with the notification, make certain that it is not counterfeit. Look to see whether the lottery promoter's name and address is the same on the check, as it is on the envelope. If the company name is different on the check, the bank name may well be fraudulent and the account, stolen. You will be help responsible if you deposit such a check and then attempt to spend or send the money to someone else.
Other fraudulent practices include directions to call a number to claim your winnings, followed by a request to either send money, or for personal identification information. Legitimate lottery or sweepstakes companies will not ask for money or for personal identification information as a prerequisite to receiving winnings.
Be suspicious of promoters claiming to be bankers, gaming officials, claims agents, tax collectors, attorneys, or a high ranking government official. Scam artists are apt to use titles to convince you of their legitimacy.
If in doubt, contact the BBB to investigate.

posted by daleperdue at 10:06 AM