Advanced Search

International lottery fraud

Scam operators use telephone and direct mail to notify you that you have won a lottery. To show good faith, the perpetrator may send you a cheque. You are instructed to deposit the cheque and immediately send (via wire) the money back to the lottery committee. The perpetrator will create a “sense of urgency,” compelling you to send the money before the check, which is counterfeit, is returned. You are typically instructed to pay taxes, attorney’s fees and exchange rate differences in order to receive the rest of the prize.