A warning's been issued for South Shore residents to be suspicious if they get a letter in the mailing claiming they've won a big UK or North American sweepstakes jackpot. Jill Atkinson of the Better Business Bureau says the phoney letters look very authentic, especially the $3,750. cheque from Sunlife Assurance. She tells us: "they look like the real cheque that you would receive and of course they use the SunLife Assurance Company of Canada name and logo. People recognize that and so its a very deceptive cheque." Atkinson says the letter requests the receiver send money to retrieve the jackpot. It turns out, the cheque supposedly from Sunlife is worthless and any money sent to the address provided is gone for good! Atkinson says anyone receiving the letter and accompanying cheque should report it right away to police or the Better Business Bureau.
The
BBB Suggests the following:
> Check
out the business with the BBB first.
> Don’t
ever agree to pay anything upfront to collect winnings.
> Do
not agree to wire money, send a cheque, bank account information or
personal information to any unknown person or firm.
> It
is impossible to win a lottery when you haven’t bought a ticket.
> Be
wary if the letter contains a list of well-known company names that
they claim are part of the sweepstakes.
> Be
wary if the letter comes by bulk mail.
> Be
wary if there is a rush to reply to the letter.
