GE SECURITIES AND PROMOTIONS
Ripoff bank check account numbers are being used fraudulently

By: BBB of Western Ontario
Date: 2006-01-19

Consumers across North America are contacting Better Business Bureaus in Canada and the US to ask about the legitimacy of notices they received by mail and spam e-mail announcing that they have won substantial sums of money in a lottery.

Consumers were given a telephone number to call and then instructed to cash the certified cheques in amounts ranging from $2, 000 to $9, 000 in order to collect their entire award package. They were then instructed to wire the money or send their own personal cheque back to the lottery company in the same amount, to cover fees or taxes.

The names and bank account numbers of reputable and valid businesses appear on the certified cheques. These companies have advised the BBB that they are the victims of identity theft and that their names and account numbers are being used fraudulently in the lottery promotions.

The BBB of Vancouver Island reported receiving numberous calls checking on the legitimacy of a company called Hartland Payment Systems located at 525 Simcoe, Victoria B.C. Consumers are telling the BBB that they received a cheque for $3, 960 which they were asked to cash, and send $3, 700 for processing fees. The Lottery Winners grand prize was alleged to be $49, 380. The address was found to be a mailbox service.

While most of these lottery notification letters deservedly end up in the trash, there appears to be an increase in the number of people who are taking them seriously. This BBB receives a number of calls every week from people trying to check on the legitimacy of the company named on the cheque.

The BBB cautions consumers not to allow enticing dollar signs to obstruct common sense. If you are being asked to send money or provide access to your bank account or credit card number in order to claim your winnings, contact your BBB.

This is an attempt to steal your money or your identity by a person pretending to be a lottery official

If you have won a legitimate, legal lottery you do not have to pay anything to claim the prize.