Hello, hello--hello!

Well, we're just about a month into the new year, and now is the time to make plans for the rest of the year, if you haven't already done so, and one of the plans to make for the rest of the year is not to get ripped off in any way, and one of the common ways to get ripped off these days is through lottery scams, and I think I should tell you about one of the oldest, and most often used, around.  It all begins when you get a letter through the mail telling you that you've won a lottery of some kind, and this letter also contains a check for a few thousand dollars, with instructions on what to do with the check, instructions that must be thoroughly followed, if you are to collect your winnings.  Do not, again I repeat, do not fall for this, because the check is no good.  It's all part of the scheme to extract money out of your bank account.  Let me explain.

First, they instruct you to deposit the check into your bank account.  Then, after you deposit this check, the tell you to withdraw the same amount that was in the check out of your account.  Then, after you've withdrawn it, they ask you to send it through Western Union so someone you don't know.  Then, after you've done this, then your winnings will be sent to you by Fed Ex.  Do not do this!  First of all, they want you to deposit this check into your account, and not cash it out right, because they want money to come from your bank account, because after you've sent this money through Western Union, these people stop payment on the check, and your bank deduct that money out of your account.  Second, the reason why they want you to send it through Western Union is because Western Union doesn't trace it once you've sent it, so once you've sent it, that money is gone, and you'll never get it back.  And the only way you'll know you've been scammed is when you contact Fed Ex and find out that absolutely nothing is coming for you.  That, and when you find out that your bank account is exactly the same amount less as was in that bogus check.

As I said before, this is the oldest scam in the book, dating back centuries, when con artist traveled in covered wagons from town to town, using wooden slugs covered with gold paint, or coins made out of "fool's gold," which is just as worthless.  They would call this "good faith money," because you were to keep this fake gold and give the con artist your own money in order to get your windfall, and, of course, by the time you found out that the gold was fake, the con artists were long gone, with your real money.  And anyone can be a victim, from college students to the elderly, black, white, male, female, Jew, gentile, Islamic.  This is an equal opportunity racket.  The old adage, "Don't take any wooden nickels" originated from this very scam.  I guess they should update that saying to say, "don't take any rubber checks." 

Well, that's all the time we have for this week.  Until next time, be well, stay well, remember to help the disaster survivors, and, of course, don't take any rubber checks.

Sincerely




Marley Sue