Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
This adage can be applied to many situations, especially scams.
One scam currently targeting Kosciusko County, especially the senior citizens of the county, involves an international lottery.
Victims of the scam receive a letter saying they won a large sum of money. The letter advises that in order to get the large award, the recipient must pay the taxes on the prize. A check is enclosed with the letter along with instructions to cash the check and return a money order to the lottery office to claim the prize.
The problem is that the check is drawn from a non-existent account, which causes it to be returned to the bank and charged to the depositor. No bank will honor the check because the company that supposedly wrote the check does not exist.
At the end of the letter, there is a telephone number that should be called for more information. The number is valid when the person calls, but once the scammer believes the money is on its way, the number is disconnected.
According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, the majority of these scams originate in Canada or overseas. Because of this, it is virtually impossible to catch the people responsible.
To avoid becoming a victim of a scam of this kind, it is important to remember that if no one paid to enter a lottery, it is unlikely that he/she will win a lottery.
Anyone who receives a letter or information they feel is suspicious, throw it away or contact the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department detective division or the Warsaw Police Department. Detectives at either department will check into the information to be sure citizens do not become victims of a scam.
