The Oxford Village Police Department wants to get the word out about a sweepstakes scam that has hit the area twice in the last two days.
Officer Clint Ashcroft said the recipients have never entered any contest, but are receiving check(s) for winnings from somewhere in the United States and other international locations.
‘The recipient gets a check in the mail and is asked to deposit the check, then remit a portion, usually most of it, to a specific address or Western Union,? he said.
The defrauder will tell the recipient they’ve won money and to enter personal information, like their date of birth, Social Security number and bank information, to complete the transaction. ‘Now, the defrauding party has the money and the (person who cashes the check) is held liable for the fraudulent transaction.?
Ashcroft said this scam is more apt to hit those who buy or sell items online, like using eBay, because personal information is easier to obtain over the internet.
He said if anyone receives suspicious documents such as these in the mail to take them to your local police agency or sheriff’s department.