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Lotto Scam Clears One Woman's Bank Account
Insider Buzz: Lotto Scam Clears One Woman's Bank Account
Updated: April 26, 2006, 12:14 pm Scam artists are targeting Hampton Roads, Virginia. Already one woman from Chesapeake is out almost five thousand dollars because of a lottery scam. The State Police asked us to alert you about a bogus lottery sweepstakes letter that's been sent to at least three people here in Hampton Roads. It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner. The letter says you need to cash a check sent in the mail for $4,800. A Chesapeake woman deposited the money at her ATM, the check cleared and later bounced but not before she sent the scam artists the money for so called international taxes. Police warn no legitimate lottery will ask for any money before you receive your full prize. "A lot of times you get a thrill you think you just won the lottery. A lot of times like in this case, you receive a check and you say here's a check right here I can go and deposit it and I can start collecting my winnings but unfortunately it's often not the case," said special agent Josh Fannon with the State Police. There are other red flags to detect if the prize is legit. Check for spelling or grammar errors in the letter and remember you should never give any personal information over the telephone. Anyone who receives notification that they won $50,000 from "Western Lotto Sweepstake Inc." is being asked to call state police at (757) 424-6855.
WTKR
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22 comments. Last comment 4 years ago by .
New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 14524 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 9:50 am - IP Logged |
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"It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner."
I wonder if she Entered the VI Sweepstakes? If NOT, I wonder why she thought she had Won something she never Entered? Official looking Letter? Blinded by the Big Money? When does Logic kick-in and they say to themselves: If I Won Why am I sending them Money? or If I Won Why don't they Deduct the International Taxes from my Winnings?
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United States
Member #380
June 5, 2002
11297 Posts
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| Posted: April 26, 2006, 9:55 am - IP Logged |
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"It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner."
I wonder if she Entered the VI Sweepstakes? If NOT, I wonder why she thought she had Won something she never Entered? Official looking Letter? Blinded by the Big Money? When does Logic kick-in and they say to themselves: If I Won Why am I sending them Money? or If I Won Why don't they Deduct the International Taxes from my Winnings?
Since when there are INTERNATIONAL taxes on lottery winnings?
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Coastal Georgia United States Member #2703 October 30, 2003 1868 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 9:58 am - IP Logged |
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We see this over and over and over..... I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ... Sad, but true : As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it.
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New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 14524 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 10:35 am - IP Logged |
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We see this over and over and over..... I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ... Sad, but true : As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it. Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks.
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New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 14524 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 10:38 am - IP Logged |
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"It says it's from a sweepstakes in the Virgin Islands... and you of course are a big winner."
I wonder if she Entered the VI Sweepstakes? If NOT, I wonder why she thought she had Won something she never Entered? Official looking Letter? Blinded by the Big Money? When does Logic kick-in and they say to themselves: If I Won Why am I sending them Money? or If I Won Why don't they Deduct the International Taxes from my Winnings?
Since when there are INTERNATIONAL taxes on lottery winnings? Yes, the International Taxes ONLY apply to Lump Sum Distributions!
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United States Member #91 January 19, 2002 6251 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 11:20 am - IP Logged |
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makes you wonder how many people do not report this type of scam,......
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United States Member #26829 November 18, 2005 160 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 11:33 am - IP Logged |
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We see this over and over and over..... I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ... Sad, but true : As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it. Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks. Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
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New Member  Midland, Texas. United States Member #10055 December 25, 2004 17 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 11:35 am - IP Logged |
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here we go again unfortunately someone trying to get something for nothing. She should've asked herself have I played a virgin island lottery lately ?
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New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 14524 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 11:45 am - IP Logged |
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We see this over and over and over..... I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ... Sad, but true : As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it. Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks. Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
Of Course! How could you miss them? 
Now, Go Back In Your Cave! 
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United States Member #26829 November 18, 2005 160 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 12:31 pm - IP Logged |
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We see this over and over and over..... I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ... Sad, but true : As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it. Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks. Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
Of Course! How could you miss them?
Now, Go Back In Your Cave! What about my roast duck and mango salsa?
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New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 14524 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 12:36 pm - IP Logged |
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We see this over and over and over..... I wish the Network news, USA today and local papers would make this a headline story so some of these people that don't have internet access will know not to fall for these scams ... Sad, but true : As long as people have money, there will always be predators looking to steal it. Sadly man has not evolved very far from Caveman Days: We still have folks taking advantage of other folks. Hey,that is not cool.Don't you watch those GEICO commercials?Yes,we are still around!
Of Course! How could you miss them?
Now, Go Back In Your Cave! What about my roast duck and mango salsa?
You Can Have It To Go!
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Palm Harbor, FL United States Member #32753 February 11, 2006 145 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 12:54 pm - IP Logged |
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some people just don't have any common sense - and to give your savings away - when you only have $5k to your name - you give it to someone who says you won a lottery in the VIirgin Islands - IMHO - that is not having any common sense............
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Englewood, Colorado United States Member #19425 July 25, 2005 51 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 1:35 pm - IP Logged |
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I've got no respect for the scammers, but they are only taking advantage of the stupidity and gullibility of the public and you'll have to admit that they are very good at what they do.
It just amazes me no end how stupid people are to fall for this stuff. The old adage "If it's too good to be true, it probably is" is the simplest remedy to this stuff.
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New Member Ohio United States Member #37501 April 10, 2006 28 Posts Offline |
| Posted: April 26, 2006, 2:08 pm - IP Logged |
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Well I've been through this one, fortunately it was only an 1800 dollar mistake, but it still is bad! I got the letter saying that I had won $300,000.00, and I was ECSTATIC! We all were. (Probably a big reason we really got serious with the lottery... but long story short, thankfully, mine didn't happen the way that most people's do, and they let me make payments on it, but what's the point in reporting it once it's done? The authorities don't give your money back, and we talked to the Royal Mounted Police (mine was Canadian) and they said there's really no way to trace them and no hope to catch them. And that's probably why alot of it doesn't go reported. On the bright side, probably thousands of these things are going out, at least people aren't falling for it AS much as they were. Awareness is being raised. I just can't wait til one of the hundred or so (at LEAST) rings get busted up. At least that will make some of us feel better Let's All Drink To That! 
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