KELOWNA, B.C. – Don’t disclose your personal financial information. That’s the warning from the Kelowna RCMP after a 76-year-old woman was the victim of a lottery letter scam last Sunday. Constable Kris Clark says RCMP got a report of fraud from a residence in the 300 block of Yates Road on November 16.
“The woman had received a letter from Publishers Clearing House indicating that she was a winner of their Lottery Awards Program,” says Clark. “The woman made contact by calling a telephone number provided within the letter and answered several questions.”
The victim was told that a deposit of $5,000 had been made into her account, which she confirmed soon after.
However, he says it turns out the letter was fraudulent and connected the woman with scammers.
“Unfortunately, the questions she answered had compromised her personal banking information and the “deposit” had actually been a transfer from one of her other accounts,” says Clark. “In the process, the fraudsters also conveniently withdrew some money for themselves.”
He says the woman has now taken the necessary steps to protect her finances.
Clark cautions that lottery award winners are not randomly selected from the white pages.
“It is important to understand that you cannot win a lottery without first buying a ticket or entering the sweepstakes,” says Clark. “Tickets for foreign lotteries must be purchased in the country of origin and no one can buy one on your behalf.”
For more information on frauds and scams visit the Anti Fraud Centre website.
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