Counterfeit Lottery Scams

Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence W. Mulvey is urging citizens to be vigilant when receiving unexpected mailings or other forms of solicitations that inform them that they are winners of a lottery, especially if the correspondence is from a foreign country.

It has come to the attention of the Nassau County Police Department that individuals are receiving notifications in the mail that they are winners of a sweepstakes lottery and in some instances they receive a partial bank check of the winnings that appears to be legitimate.

These lotteries are scams that cost honest citizens thousands of unrecoverable dollars. Remember, "If you did not buy a lottery ticket, you cannot win a lottery." "If you receive a check for a lottery you did not enter, it is counterfeit." There are No Exceptions.

The following tips are being offered in the event you are sent one of these counterfeit lottery notifications:

· Don't send money if a caller requires you to send money "right now!" and that you must wire money before you can claim your prize.

· Don't wire money to someone you don't know well. After your money is paid, you will not get it back.

· Don't send money to someone who tells you what to say to the wire transfer agent, or says you should hide information or lie to the agent.

· No legitimate bank or credit card company will ask you to supply them with your social security number or bank account passwords over the telephone or on-line.

· Contact your local police department if you receive one of these counterfeit lottery notifications.