International Lottery Scams

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By By Herb Weisbaum

Summary

Don't be fooled by official-looking letters claiming that you've won an overseas lottery.

Story Published: Nov 12, 2004 at 4:57 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:37 AM PDT

International Lottery Scams
SEATTLE - "CONGRATULATIONS!!! You've just won $615,800."

What would you do if you got a colorful official-looking notice from Spain telling you that you had won the big bucks El-Gordo Sweepstakes?

Hopefully, you'd throw it away.

A KOMO listener got one of these award notices. The strange thing is, she hadn't entered the El GORDO sweepstakes, so how could she be a winner?

The letter explains all that. The Santa Lucia Security Company had done that for her. Sure they did; and I'm going to be having dinner with Heather Locklear this weekend!

All our listener had to do to collect her winnings was to fill out the Lottery Payment Processing Form.

It asks for all sorts of personal information, including bank account number and routing number, information a crook could use to electronically withdraw money from her checking account.

This is just one of the many winning lottery notices being sent to people all across the country.

Every one is a SCAM, sent by a con artist who is trying to get your money in one way or another.

The bottom line: steer clear of the foreign lottery games. You'll lose every time!

Remember this: it is illegal to send foreign lottery materials through the mail, that includes offers to buy a ticket, chance or share in a foreign lottery.

For More Information:

www.ftc.gov

www.usps.com