Like the old saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
That’s what two Oxford residents might be thinking after they were almost tricked by a phony sweepstakes last week.
According to the sheriff’s report, a 28-year-old woman on Lakeview Rd. received a check in the amount of $1,995 from a Publisher Digest Sweepstakes based in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The letter accompanying the check stated she was ‘the lucky winner of unclaimed prize money in the amount of $35,000.?
Addison Twp. substation commander Sgt. Pete Burkett said the woman was excited when she thought she won because she fills out sweepstakes forms ‘all the time.?
‘Her husband noticed sweepstakes was spelled wrong…got suspicious and called the number,? he said.
The ‘Mr. Robert Coleman? on the other line became very ‘irate? and ‘evasive? with the questioning, to which he then told the husband she ‘wasn’t a winner anymore? before hanging up the phone.
Burkett said the department receives a Michigan Law Enforcement Bulletin each month which described this exact scam.
The scam works as follows: the scam artist sends a counterfeit check with a smaller amount to the victim, stating that in order to collect the full amount, they need to cash the check.
Once the check is run through the bank, the victim’s routing numbers are printed on the check and sent back to the scammers.
By the time the bank realizes the check is a fraud, the scam artists would’ve already cleaned out the bank account using the routing numbers.
This recent scam has been turned over to the F.B.I. and Royal Canadian Mounted Police who have already been trying to stop the scam.
So how do these scam artists get your name and address?
Burkett said they purchase names and addresses from legitimate sweepstakes entries and advertisers. ‘They will kind of prey on elderly people,? he said. ‘They feel they’re easy targets because they’re honest and can be very naive.?
One way residents can prevent these scams is by being observant and cautious of these letters that come in the mail claiming you’ve won something.
In this particular scam, the husband noticed misspelled words, which sent off a red flag. Also strange was the use of the symbol ?&? instead of the word ‘and,? and the phone number’s area code was 902’leading to Nova Scotia, Canada’not the U.S. Virgin Islands.
‘If you get the phone call or the letter in the mail indicating that you’ve won or you’re the big prize winner, really look into it before you do anything,? Burkett said. ‘You don’t get anything for free.?
He also stresses to never give out personal information, like a bank account or social security number, over the phone.
‘You have to be very wary,? Burkett said.
If you receive any letters of checks like the above scam, contact Sgt. Pete Burkett at (248) 628-3600.