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Press Release
Press Release
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The following post appears courtesy of the Consumer Protection Branch of the Civil Division.
The pitch is simple. You receive a call from a foreign lottery announcing that you have won money, a car and other prizes. The caller tells you that you entered a contest: a form you submitted in the mail, or on the Internet, or while shopping. You have won, but you must pay taxes, insurance and other up-front fees in order to get your prize into the United States. Despite several payments totaling thousands of dollars, you never receive the prizes promised to you. According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Americans have lost $42 million to fraudulent foreign lotteries and sweepstakes. The majority of victims are elderly. In addition to losing their life savings, victims are duped into giving fraudsters their Social Security numbers and financial accounts. Fraudsters convince victims to send money quickly, and they warn victims not to discuss their winnings with family, friends or professional advisors. The Department of Justice Consumer Protection Branch is working with its investigative partners to prosecute lottery fraudsters. This effort has identified common signs of lottery fraud that you can use to protect yourself and loved ones.
Additional information on this scam is provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection service at www.deliveringtrust.com, and by the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2012/08/scammers-exploit-ftcs-good-name-promise-phony-sweepstakes-prizes.