DANVERS — Police are warning residents not to fall for a sweepstakes scam, after two seniors in town reported receiving identical letters and fake checks.
None of the people lost money; they just wanted to report the chicanery, Sgt. Robert Bettencourt said.
"Generally, you know it's fake," Bettencourt said of such letters. However, scam artists are counting on someone falling for the scheme.
The letter purports to be the final notice from Capital Direct Lottery Sweepstakes Division of Unclaimed Funds in Las Vegas. It supposedly announces the winner of the "USA Lottery Sweepstakes Millions drawing." The prize for hitting "the lucky number" is $250,000.
"Capital Direct has been contacted by the Multi-State Lottery Association to find winners that have not claimed their winnings and help them through the claiming process," the letter says. "Your cooperation is mandatory."
The letter comes with a check that looks authentic in the amount of $3,938.25, Bettencourt said. For some reason, it appears to be issued from a sprinkler and security company in King of Prussia, Pa. Nothing on the check says it came from Capital Direct or USA Lottery Syndicates. Winners are told to call an agent to "activate your cheque."
"Discretion and confidentiality are of outmost (sic) importance," the letter says.
Bettencourt said winners who call are told to wire about $2,400 to another address. Bettencourt said people should be wary and not wire money to anyone after they have been told they have some winnings coming to them.
"We don't want someone to fall for a scam like this," Bettencourt said.
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673, by email at eforman@salemnews.com or on Twitter @DanverSalemNews.
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