Attorney General's News Release

November 24, 2003

Nixon issues cease and desist order to Canadian business falsely telling Missourians they have won a lottery prize

Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon today issued a cease and desist order to a Montreal, Quebec business that was telephoning Missourians and falsely telling them they had won a Canadian lottery prize. Nixon says employees of International Protection Center (IPC) were telling the Missourians they needed to pay a fee of up to $700 in order to claim their non-existent $1 million jackpot. The Attorney General's Office received complaints about the scam from residents of Jackson and Macon counties.

“Fortunately, none of the Missourians who contacted my office about this scam were duped into sending money to Canada,” Nixon says. “Several of the consumers, in fact, were alert enough to obtain important information from the scam artists so we could track down this outfit to send the cease and desist order."

“Missourians need to be very wary of calls that promise large prizes in exchange for money being sent,” Nixon says. “Remember, no legitimate contest is going to require you to pay so-called fees or taxes upfront in order to claim your prize. Your best defense is to hang up on these con men.”

If IPC violates the cease and desist order, Nixon could file state felony charges of unlawful merchandising practices against the business and its employees. The maximum penalty upon conviction for such charges is four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Such foreign lottery scam attempts have become increasingly more frequent in recent years, Nixon says, and many of the scams target older consumers.

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

To report a foreign lottery or sweepstakes scam, 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