Alerts - Lottery Scams

If you have received a letter in the mail from a Canadian 'lottery' firm congratulating you on winning a cash prize, car, boat, house, etc., for a 'small' fee of anywhere from $20 to upwards of several thousand dollars, please read below:

Please be advised that it is illegal in both Canada and the United States to ask for money upfront if you have legitimately won a prize/sweepstake. To our knowledge, these scams are presently affecting Americans, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, and citizens of the United Kingdom.

Please do not send in the requested money, as you will receive absolutely nothing in return. You should ask yourself "When did I ever enter a Canadian lottery?". Often, these companies get names and addresses of potential victims by purchasing contact information on the internet or directly from marketing companies.

International lottery scams
Scam operators, often based in Canada, are using the telephone and direct mail to entice U.S. consumers to buy chances in high-stakes foreign lotteries from as far away as Australia and Europe...
January 2006