|
Updated: 3:41 PM Aug 27, 2008
Foreign Lottery Scam Warning
Front Royal, Va. Thieves are always finding new ways to rip people off. Posted: 3:12 PM Aug 27, 2008 |
|
Thieves are always finding new ways to rip people off. One Valley resident got a phone call this week that said she had won a Jamaican lottery.
In order for her to claim her prize, she was asked to send in a $400 money order to an "unknown" location. Then the woman was told that someone named Nora at the police department would be able to confirm the winning.
However, this is just one of a series of scams in the community, which has caused the Front Royal Police Department to send out a warning.
Sgt. Clint Keller says, "What they don't tell you is that check is counterfeit. By the time it goes to the bank and comes back saying it's counterfeit, you've already gotten your money, sent them them the money from your account, which now the banks are saying you're going to be held responsible for because it's a forged check: counterfeit check. What it's doing is you're sending them your money and the banks are holding you responsible."
There are ways to avoid falling for these kinds of lottery scams. Never pay money to collect a winning and don't release your Social Security Number or bank account information to anyone representing a foreign lottery.
