From KFOR-TV's In Your Corner:
When you receive a email from someone you don't know use caution. If you receive a letter from a company or individual that claims they have money for you that you did not contact first...Beware.
If a foreign country is mentioned hit delete and do not respond to it. Also look for red-flags like spelling errors and poor grammar. A long strange tale of need or assistance with finances may come with the letter or email but it's always a ploy to entice you out of your money!
We see many of these Grant, Lottery or Sweepstakes offers in many forms but most are known as the Nigerian or 419 scam. They often originate outside the U.S. so it is difficult for authorities to stop them or track them. Look for postmarks from Canada, Spain, The U.K. or Las Vegas, NV. These areas are hotbeds for bulk mail scams.
It is important to remember that these far-fetched offers are just that far-fetched and I can't remember anyone who has called us back to say, "hey they sent the money and I'm a Millionaire now!" All the calls we get after warning people are like this, "I should have listened now I'm out all my money."
DO NOT CASH the check or money order that was included with your letter even though it may look official or have a well know company name on it. Or they may ask for cash now and an urgent "do not share this with anyone or tell anyone of this message" plea too. DON'T FALL FOR IT!
NEVER SEND MONEY IN REPLY TO THESE OFFERS.
You can verify the account by calling the legitimate company but I'm willing to bet they will tell you it is fake. As Brad Edwards always said, "if it sounds too good to be true...it probably is...don't send the money."
I really ask that you use common sense and really think about the offer if you did not initiate contact first. Only state-run lotteries ( Oklahoma, Texas etc.) are legal in the United States. Foreign lotteries are not. Also the only way a lottery knows who won is when the winning ticket is presented to them not the other way around with the lottery contacting you.
In Sweepstakes offers notice also the scam name may be very similar to well-known Sweepstakes like Publisher's Clearinghouse or American Family. Those "legitimate" sweeps have verification methods that will assure you that you have won, never pay in advance to secure your winnings. If you did not enter you will not win! Thus the scam sweepstakes should be a red-flag right off the bat.
In some cases a well-known or familiar company is mentioned. Why would a multi-national, multi-billion dollar company just want to give you money? Sounds too good to be true!
I could tell you about a little old lady in Enid who lost her home because she sent all her money to the Australian Lottery but you probably already know how it ends.
Be careful of online and mail scams. NEVER give out personal information unless you can verify the person on the other end of the line or you initiated the call first and know the reasons they need your information.
Online improve & update your security software.
BOTTOMLINE, NO ONE SENDS YOU FREE MONEY. FALLING FOR A EMAIL OR MAIL SCAM WILL COST YOU PLENTY!
If you received a letter through US Mail, UPS or FedEx contact the US Postal Inspectors Fraud Unit: http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
For tips on these scams: http://www.fakechecks.org/index.html
Or take the mail to your local Postmaster to be forwarded to the Postal Inspectors.
Federal Trade Commission Cross Border Scam information page: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/crossborder/
When you receive a email from someone you don't know use caution. If you receive a letter from a company or individual that claims they have money for you that you did not contact first...Beware.
If a foreign country is mentioned hit delete and do not respond to it. Also look for red-flags like spelling errors and poor grammar. A long strange tale of need or assistance with finances may come with the letter or email but it's always a ploy to entice you out of your money!
We see many of these Grant, Lottery or Sweepstakes offers in many forms but most are known as the Nigerian or 419 scam. They often originate outside the U.S. so it is difficult for authorities to stop them or track them. Look for postmarks from Canada, Spain, The U.K. or Las Vegas, NV. These areas are hotbeds for bulk mail scams.
It is important to remember that these far-fetched offers are just that far-fetched and I can't remember anyone who has called us back to say, "hey they sent the money and I'm a Millionaire now!" All the calls we get after warning people are like this, "I should have listened now I'm out all my money."
DO NOT CASH the check or money order that was included with your letter even though it may look official or have a well know company name on it. Or they may ask for cash now and an urgent "do not share this with anyone or tell anyone of this message" plea too. DON'T FALL FOR IT!
NEVER SEND MONEY IN REPLY TO THESE OFFERS.
You can verify the account by calling the legitimate company but I'm willing to bet they will tell you it is fake. As Brad Edwards always said, "if it sounds too good to be true...it probably is...don't send the money."
I really ask that you use common sense and really think about the offer if you did not initiate contact first. Only state-run lotteries ( Oklahoma, Texas etc.) are legal in the United States. Foreign lotteries are not. Also the only way a lottery knows who won is when the winning ticket is presented to them not the other way around with the lottery contacting you.
In Sweepstakes offers notice also the scam name may be very similar to well-known Sweepstakes like Publisher's Clearinghouse or American Family. Those "legitimate" sweeps have verification methods that will assure you that you have won, never pay in advance to secure your winnings. If you did not enter you will not win! Thus the scam sweepstakes should be a red-flag right off the bat.
In some cases a well-known or familiar company is mentioned. Why would a multi-national, multi-billion dollar company just want to give you money? Sounds too good to be true!
I could tell you about a little old lady in Enid who lost her home because she sent all her money to the Australian Lottery but you probably already know how it ends.
Be careful of online and mail scams. NEVER give out personal information unless you can verify the person on the other end of the line or you initiated the call first and know the reasons they need your information.
Online improve & update your security software.
BOTTOMLINE, NO ONE SENDS YOU FREE MONEY. FALLING FOR A EMAIL OR MAIL SCAM WILL COST YOU PLENTY!
If you received a letter through US Mail, UPS or FedEx contact the US Postal Inspectors Fraud Unit: http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
For tips on these scams: http://www.fakechecks.org/index.html
Or take the mail to your local Postmaster to be forwarded to the Postal Inspectors.
Federal Trade Commission Cross Border Scam information page: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/crossborder/
