On Monday, December 19, 2012, the Regina Police Service received two reports of scams within less than 24 hours of each other. In both incidents, the scam was stopped before any money was sent.
The Prize Lottery Scam occurs when the victim is contacted via phone and told that they have won a lottery or prize. The catch – in order to claim the prize, the victim must send money to the scammer in order for the prize to be released. The majority of fraud scams request money to be transferred using a money transfer service.
The Regina Police Service would like to remind the public:
- Never send money via money transfer to a stranger.
- Do not use a money transfer service to buy items online.
- Beware of deals that are “too good to be true”.
Remember, legitimate lotteries do not require a winner to pay any fees up front, such as taxes or a security deposit before receiving a prize. Carefully examine the terms and conditions of any lottery before entering it.