LAKEPORT — The Lake County Sheriff”s Office has uncovered a lottery scam in which someone attempted to bilk a Kelseyville resident.
According to the LCSO, the resident received a check for $4,783 and a letter from an entity identifying itself as the Y.P. Financial Group of Las Vegas. As the winner of the “DE-LOTTO AUSTRALIAN SWEEPSTAKES LOTTERY,” the resident was instructed to send a personal check to the promotions manager and North American claims agent, whose name was given as Bryan Howard.
The check was to cover “application and bond fees.”
The lottery, the letter said, was held on Oct. 5 and the resident was “entitled to the sum of $250,000.”
Additionally, the resident was instructed to call Howard. A recorded voice at the telephone number in the letter identified it as Howard”s voice mail, but said that no messgaes could be left because the voice mail box was full.
Sgt. Mike Morshed of the LCSO said that scams of this nature happen periodically in Lake County.
Citizens should be warned, he said, that “If anything looks too good to be true, it”s not.”
As protection from scams, he added, “Just don”t be gullible. Nobody”s going to send you millions of dollars for nothing. Don”t send them your money. If anyone asks you to send money, it”s not going to be legit.”
Morshed advised that anyone who has a suspicion about correspondence notifying them of big winnings and asking for a personal check should contact local law enforcement, the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.
“People keep responding to these things and it”s a shame because we can”t do anything for them. Especially when they”re overseas,” said Morshed.
