Attorney General's News Release

July 6, 2001

Missourians need to beware of new sweepstakes, lottery scams from Australia and Canada, Nixon says

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today warned Missourians about new scams from Australia and Canada that try to con would-be victims into sending money after they receive false promises or documents telling them they have won thousands of dollars in a foreign lottery or sweepstakes.

"The scam artists pulling some of these cons recently are certainly creative, but that doesn't make their actions any less illegal," Nixon said. "Unfortunately, the Canadian scam using counterfeit cashier's checks has succeeded in fooling not only many recipients of the bogus check, but even has fooled officials at some U.S. banks. Remember, no legitimate contest is going to require you to pay so-called fees or taxes upfront in order to claim your prize."

Nixon said would-be victims of the newest Canadian scam receive a phone call telling them that they have won $125,000 in a Canadian sweepstakes and that a cashier's check for $25,000 — the first installment on the winnings — is on the way. In addition, victims are told, they won't have to pay the fees and taxes on the prize until they have deposited the check in the bank.

If the check recipient or a bank official calls the telephone number on the check — supposedly issued by the Bank of Montreal — for verification, they are told that the check is legitimate. Unfortunately, Nixon said, the person verifying the check is in on the scam as well, and many recipients have sent the con artists money for the "fees and taxes" before finding out the prize check is bogus.

Other consumers are receiving calls telling them they've won an Australian lottery, and that they need to wire money to an account in a small island country to pay the "taxes" in order to claim their prize. Nixon said the elderly most often are the target of these types of lottery and sweepstakes scams.

"Don't let someone telling you that you've won a contest in another country mean that you let down your suspicions," Nixon said. "A scam's a scam the world around."

To report a foreign lottery or sweepstakes scam, file a complaint or contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818