Stratford Police Warn Of Lottery Scam

STRATFORD, CT — As part of its new weekly feature, Stratford police are warning residents of a lottery scam.

Stratford police plan to highlight a new scam weekly based on what reports they are receiving in town.

Read more from the police department below:

Lottery/Sweepstakes/Inheritance

In this scam the individual is contacted about winning a lottery or sweepstakes they never entered, or to collect on an inheritance from an unknown deceased relative.

Contact is often made by phone or email, some scammers will even go as far as to draft up letterhead from a legitimate law firm to make the scam more believable.

They will request you send them a wire transfer or to purchase gift cards/money cards to “pay the administrative fees” or “taxes” for your new found “inheritance” or “lottery winnings.” Soon thereafter they will began asking for banking information.

What you should do:

• DO NOT respond. Sending a reply tells the scammer that they have a valid email address and someone who reads their email.
• NEVER give out personal or banking information.
• Report the incident to the police and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Remember: If you have to pay up front, it’s not a prize, and if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.