Scams continue… Remember Free is Free

Many of our followers are aware of these scams. Is the same true for the seniors in your life? Take a moment to share this information.

It’s your lucky day! You just won a foreign lottery! The letter says so. All you have to do to get your winnings is wire the money to the sender to pay taxes and fees. You’re guaranteed that when they get your payment, you’ll get your prize!

Remember one simple rule... “Free is FREE!”

While many people see these scams for what they are, some continue to become victims. The thought of winning millions of dollars “just might be true” is often enough to cause victims to throw caution to the wind and send thousands of dollars to a total stranger.

Once the money is sent, it is gone forever.

Con artist are very convincing and will often use phrases like “I do not want you to fall victim to scammers” when they are targeting a victim.

Here’s how to avoid a counterfeit check and other scams.

• Throw away any offer that asks you to pay for a prize or a gift. If it’s free or a gift, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Free is free.

• Resist the urge to enter foreign lotteries. It’s illegal to play a foreign lottery through the mail or the telephone, and most foreign lottery solicitations are phony.

• Know who you’re dealing with, and never wire money to strangers.

• If you’re selling something, don’t accept a check for more than the selling price, no matter how tempting the offer or how convincing the story. Ask the buyer to write the check for the correct amount. If the buyer refuses to send the correct amount, return the check. Don’t send the merchandise.

If you accept payment by check, ask for a check drawn on a local bank, or a bank with a local branch. That way, you can make a personal visit to make sure the check is valid. If that’s not possible, call the bank where the check was purchased, and ask if it is valid. Get the bank’s phone number from directory assistance or an Internet site that you know and trust, not from the check or from the person who gave you the check.

If the buyer insists that you wire back funds, end the transaction immediately. Legitimate buyers don’t pressure you to send money by wire transfer services. In addition, you have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction.

Resist any pressure to “act now.” If the buyer’s offer is good now, it should be good after the check clears.


If you have been a victim of cyber crime you can file a complaint on-line here.