OXFORD, CT — A letter claiming an Oxford resident had won a Publishers Clearing House prize came with a demand to pay taxes or fees using gift cards, prompting a warning from local police.
A resident recently gave the department a copy of one of the letters, according to an alert posted on the Oxford Police Community Page.
"Please be aware that this is a scam," police wrote.
The alert did not say whether the resident sent money or provided any gift card information.
The warning matches Federal Trade Commission guidance on prize scams: A demand to pay money before collecting a supposed prize is a sign of fraud. Scammers may claim the payment covers taxes, processing or other fees.
READ MORE:
Police urged residents not to purchase gift cards or share card numbers or PINs with anyone claiming they have won a prize. Residents also should not send money or give the sender personal or financial information.
The FTC warns that scammers may use the names of familiar companies, including Publishers Clearing House, to make a prize offer appear legitimate. Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment-app transfers to release winnings are signs of a scam, according to the agency.
Anyone who receives a suspicious letter or is unsure whether an offer is legitimate should contact police, the local alert said. Oxford's Police Department website lists its routine telephone number as 203-888-4353.
Police also asked residents to share the warning with relatives, friends and neighbors. Suspected prize scams can be reported through the FTC's fraud reporting website.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Oxford Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.