Insider Buzz: Lottery scam victimizes Colorado womanEver heard the cliche you don’t get something for nothing?
A few months ago Rebecca Jones received a piece of paper in the mail inviting her to enter a free lottery drawing. All Jones had to do was fill out her name, phone number and address, then send it back, she said.
A few weeks later she received a letter announcing she had won $1.2 million, but would have to pay about $3,700 in taxes and surcharges, she said.
Jones said she received a $3,900 check in the mail with instructions to cash it and wire the money to someone else so they could take care of the fees associated with the windfall.
Jones said she cashed the check and wired the money to another location where it was collected. Not long after that, the bank notified her the check was counterfeit, and she is now liable for the $3,900.