[GreatBearMagnus]

My grandfather is 88 years old, and lives in Tampa. Good guy, totally together mentally and physically, we are very fortunate.

He received a letter in yesterday's mail, with the letterhead "OZL 6/41", with a Seattle Washington address. The letter looks just like a piece of SPAM that you might receive in your email, except that it also includes a check, for $2,960.00.

The letter is full of improper grammar, incomplete sentences, and poor punctuation. It talks about a lottery drawing from back in June 2006 (the "OZ Lotteries" is in fact the proper name for the Australian National Lottery), and how he was one of 50 winners, who together will split a winning pot of $15 million.

My grandfather hasn't played the US lottery in 50 years, let alone the Australian National Lottery. However, this check was very enticing to him (who wouldn't like to receive $2,960 in the mail), so he called the number to "activate" his claim (as described in the letter) and then deposited the check.

He called me a little bit ago, worried now that this is probably a hoax. (Good thinking, Grandpa, just a day late!) I googled some of the key terms / names from the letter, and found this: http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/Specia...6/sa06274.html ... it was filed by an institution DIFFERENT from the one that the check he received was from, but the story was painfully close. So I called the institution that the check was drawn on (name omitted to protect the innocent), and they indicated that they had filed a similar report with the NACU (Nat'l ***'n of Credit Unions), indicating that some of their checks had been counterfeited as well.

I'm thinking that my grandfather is in for a world of hurt as the result of this ... I hope I'm wrong!! I told my grandfather to call the National Fraud Information Center (800/876-7060) and report it ASAP, to minimize any damage he may have done.

Just thought I would post this, hopefully it helps someone else!

[southerngirl]

GBM---DH is a banker.
Please have Grampa call his bank ASAP. Ask to speak to the manager not just a csm. His banker should be able to help him and should be more than happy to do so.

This is important to protect your Gramps standing with his financial institution. They can work with him to help prevent fraud on his account from these creeps! Also the bank will want to protect themselves also.

[GreatBearMagnus]

According to the person at the National Fraud Info Center, the way the scam works is that the person deposits the check, and then writes a check to this OZ Lotto company, for the same amount out of their account, to pay for "fees" associated with claiming their winnings. The $2,960 check from the place then bounces, so the individual is "out" the $2,960 amount that they paid for "fees".

Doesn't seem quite as nefarious as I had feared, so that's good. And since grandpa never wrote a check to them, he'll come out OK. He called his bank and told them that he had deposited a check that he believed was valid, but that would in fact bounce as part of an organized fraud, and they indicated that they would not charge him a fee for having it bounce.

[LyndaSLP]

Glad it turned out well for your Grandpa.

[crazy2have3kids]

I just got a letter for the so called OZL 6/41 LOtto ... It says I won and they sent me a check for 3,860 Bucks. told me to call a number b4 cashing the check.. i guess the drawing was back on December 6, 2006.... Now is this the same scam? THANKS

[GreatBearMagnus]

Originally Posted by crazy2have3kids

I just got a letter for the so called OZL 6/41 LOtto ... It says I won and they sent me a check for 3,860 Bucks. told me to call a number b4 cashing the check.. i guess the drawing was back on December 6, 2006.... Now is this the same scam? THANKS

You can look into it for yourself, buy I would definitely be suspicious!

My suggestion would be to identify the bank that the check was drawn on, and give them a call ... ask them if the account number is a legitimate account. Dollars-to-donuts that it is not.