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Californians targeted by Spanish lottery scamNews Story
Imagine receiving a letter in the mail that you're the big winner of a lottery in Spain. If it sounds too good to be true, that's probably because it is.This scam is known as the El Gordo lottery, meaning fat one . But the only ones fattening their wallets are the criminals behind it.It's a letter that seemed too good to be true to News 8's assistant news director Dean Elwood. $600,000 ... who wouldn't want that, he said.And according to this notice claiming to be from the El Gordo Spani
Nov 30, 2005, 1:21 pm - Lottery News

Better Business Bureau warns of lottery-winning scamsNews Story
Congratulations! Your name was attaached to a ticket that was recently drawn from a pool of 50,000 names for the lump sum of $250,000! Sound familiar? Many consumers have reported receiving phone calls and letters from Judith Thompson, Fat Payment Securities Inc., Sweepstakes Resources and Payment Verification Center, Canada, congratulating them on winning the lottery.According to the Better Business Bureau, those are the names that scammers are using this week. The names change from day to
Nov 28, 2005, 11:06 am - Lottery News

Gullible woman bilked out of $100K in lottery scamNews Story
A Tucson, Arizona, woman who said she was playing a free Internet lottery game was bilked out of nearly $100,000, according to sheriff's officials.The woman contacted the Sheriff's Department on Oct. 20 and told deputies about the lottery game called Universal Swiss Lottery, which she said she had been playing on the Internet. The game required no money to play.In March 2004, the woman said, she was contacted and told that she had won 2 million euros, according to the Sheriff's Department, which
Nov 3, 2005, 1:18 pm - Lottery News

Lottery 'syndicate' is a pyramid scamNews Story
Every week, Tony Hetherington of This is Money (UK) replies to readers' letters, adding comments, advice and the results of his enquiries. If you think you are a victim of financial mismanagement, or want advice before investing, write to Tony Hetherington, Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS. Sorry, but he cannot give personal replies. Please send only copies of documents - if these are relevant to your enquiry. We regret that they cannot be returned.A. W. writes: I attended a present
Oct 24, 2005, 9:12 am - Lottery News

Oregon woman tricked by international lottery scamNews Story
The letter from Star Lotto Prize Inc. promising a big win was so believable.But within a week of receiving it, Juanita Foss of Beaverton had lost $3,000. Any time you get a lottery thing like this it's fraud, said Foss, a retiree who wants to make sure no one else falls for the scam.The swindle starts with an official letter promising a rich reward. It moves forward with a fake check sent to the victim. And ends with the victim forwarding a real check to an international address.The scam may be
Sep 30, 2005, 9:16 am - Lottery News

Four accused in Florida lottery ticket fraudNews Story
Stuart Elvia Urieta had heard about scheme in which someone claims to be an undocumented immigrant who needs an American citizen -- and money to cash a winning lottery ticket.So the 13-year Stuart resident was suspicious when a woman asked her for $29,000 to cash a ticket reportedly worth $325 million last weekend.Urieta called authorities, who on Tuesday announced a rare arrest in one of the common lottery frauds. You know you can never find these people because they come and go so quick, said
Sep 14, 2005, 6:22 am - Lottery News

Lottery scam targets Minnesota residentsNews Story
The Minnesota State Lottery is warning people of a scam in which someone is sending letters from a group called the Minnesota State Lotto Sunset Minnesota Lotto.The letters say the recipient has won a drawing but must send money to claim the prize.The letters, which include a phony check for $4,100, say the recipient has won $80,000 in a second-chance lottery drawing. The letter instructs the recipient to send $4,000 to claim the rest of their prize.The Minnesota Attorney General's Office and
Sep 9, 2005, 3:00 pm - Lottery News

Scammer using lottery ploy to get personal informationNews Story
If your phone rings at night and the man on the other end says he's with the New York Lottery and you've just won the Win for Life game or any other lottery contest don't believe him.Several residents of Newburgh, New York, told police yesterday that they'd gotten such calls.According to police, after telling the people who answered the phone they'd won, the caller then said he needed some personal information to verify their winning ticket, including their full name, address, date of birt
Sep 7, 2005, 7:43 am - Lottery News

N.J. Officials Warn Residents Of Lottery ScamNews Story
New Jersey Lottery officials are warning Garden State residents to beware of a scam involving letters claiming large lottery winnings.Lottery officials have been alerted to fraudulent letters telling people that they have won $1 million from the Mega Millions Lottery.The letter instructs the recipient to call a special phone number to claim the $500,000 they are eligible to receive.Those who call are asked for sensitive financial information.New Jersey Lottery officials have contacted the Federa
Aug 3, 2005, 11:33 am - Lottery News

Former Texas Lottery employee indicted in scamNews Story
Woman accused of taking money from those hoping to be ticket sellersA former employee of the Texas Lottery Commission has been indicted for allegedly defrauding retailers who applied to become Texas Lottery vendors.The indictment charges Taneil Gage with one count of theft by a public servant of more than $500 but less than $1,500. The offense is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years behind bars.The alleged scam in June and July 2003 preyed on retailers who didn't meet minimum credit
Jul 20, 2005, 11:33 am - Lottery News