Combining 2 ro 3 scams into 1
Read more: Local, Crime, Community, Scam, Quincy Police Department, Checking Accounts, Lottery, Sweepstakes
(Quincy, Ill.) Another Tri-State resident was recently the target of a lottery scam.
The person was sent a letter claiming they had won $250,000
A check for more than $4,500 came with the letter, but the supposed winner was told to use that check to pay $3,500 worth of taxes.
The Quincy Police Department wants to remind citizens these scams may involve actual banks, companies and legitimate data to make the scam more believable. This case actually involved a real checking account.
And now scammers are beginning to combine two and even three scams all into one, which also increases the number of victims.
"So we have 2 victims in this case," said QPD Elder Services Officer Tom Liesen. "You have the victim whose getting the lottery check sent to them and you have the victim whose bank account information is being used. And the bank account victim probably is going to have to cancel the check or may lose the money."
You should always contact police or a local financial institution if you believe anything you have received seems suspicious.
And as always Liesen says if you did not enter a lottery or sweepstakes you cannot win.
Also, in a legitimate sweepstakes, any taxes or fees could be taken out of your winnings.
You should never have to send money ahead of time.
