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WISE EYES 04-20-06 International Lottery Mail Scam The Wise County Sheriff office has received information on a new scam with same old twist. They send you a check you cash it and send them the extra amount of monies. The checks always look real and a lot of the time the bank will accept it. Then when the bank attempt to get reimbursement they find everything is a fraud and you owe the bank replacement money. The Pacific Heaven Processing Center out of London, England sent an announcement letter to a citizen advising they had won the second category of the promo lotto via web plus Lotto programs. There are a total of 17 international winners in the 2nd category. Winning a total amount of $52,940.00. Enclosed was a “cashiers cheque” in the amount of $4,550.00. This money was the first installment of the winnings and it is to help pay charges/fees after receiving the first installment. The letter states the participating lotto organizations are not authorized to deduct charges/fees before paying winners. Therefore the winner has to pay charges/fees only after receiving the first installment. The total fees payable amounts to 4% percent of total winnings. The “Mega Link Incorporation” is the agency sending the letter to locate the winners on the behalf of the International Lottery. The letter states to contact a claim agent by a phone number given and they will give you further instruction on receiving the remaining balance of your winnings. The cashier’s check was written on the Torrington Savings Bank in Burlington, CT. The check is authentic looking right done to the watermark. Wise County Sheriff’s Investigator Chase Nolen contacted the bank and was advised the check was not a legitimate check from their bank and that it could have been issued from London, but the Torrington Bank had no connection to the lotto programs. If you receive this type of letter stating you are a winner, it’s best to check with the local Law Enforcement agency before depositing the check in your bank account and sending money back to anyone. The Wise County Sheriff’s Office is working to keep Wise County SAFE & SOUND!! Sgt Debbie Denney, Public Information Officer |
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