Beware of fraudulent checks posing as lottery winnings in the mail.
Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck is advising people not to fall for a scam that seems to be on the rise these days. People in all the surrounding counties should also be aware of the scam.
Some residents in the county (and likely elsewhere) have been receiving a check in the mail that looks at first glance genuine. The recipients also receive a letter with the check informing the potential victims they have won a lottery but that to cash the check they must first send money to cover a “transaction fee.”
Most recipients of the fraudulent checks are senior citizens, Heck noted, adding those who reported the scam all possessed a healthy skepticism that prevented them from falling for the scam.
“Never send money to someone who contacts you unexpectedly,” Heck advised, “regardless of the reasons the sender uses for contacting you. Anyone receiving one of these fraudulent checks should contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.” Or, if living in other counties, contact the appropriate police or sheriff’s departments.
