Denver, CO – July 27, 2011 – Illegal foreign sweepstakes are extremely common and recently the Better Business Bureau Serving Denver/Boulder (BBB) has received several calls from people targeted in such scams. Recent callers have stated that the scammer who called was representing themselves as being with the BBB.
These scams often originate out of Jamaica as the phone numbers being called from start with a Jamaican area code, 876. Those who have reported this swindle to the BBB state that the scammer says that are calling on behalf of the BBB and that the target has won millions in prizes. The scammer then instructs them to send anywhere from $250 to $350 to cover taxes or fees and as soon as that is received, the winnings will be wired to them. Others have also been asked to mail fees or let the caller send a courier to pick up the fees.
“It is illegal for anyone to require any fees or purchases in order to claim a sweepstakes prize. And the BBB is a nonprofit organization that never holds any such sweepstakes,” said Dale Mingilton, President and CEO of the BBB Serving Denver/Boulder. “Anyone who says the BBB is offering millions in prize money are scammers.”
If you receive such calls or anything similar, get as much information as possible from the scammer then hang up and report it the BBB and the U.S. Postal Inspector. Do not give any of your personal information to the caller.
Better Business Bureau: (303) 758-2100 / www.denver.bbb.org/scam-source
U.S. Postal Inspector: (877) 876-2455 / http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors
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