Contact 6 says foreign lottery scammers getting more creative
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- You most likely didn't win the lottery in Nigeria or Jamaica -- or any other foreign country for that matter, especially if you get the notice here in the United States. FOX6's Contact 6 says some people simply want to believe it's true, and end up losing a lot more than they'd hoped to gain.
"He explained to me, I mean, who doesn`t dream of winning the lottery? He was contacted and told you have won the lottery and in order to collect that prize money you need to pay the taxes to get it out of the country and to the U.S.," U.S. Postal Inspector Michael Larson said.
The victim sent the money -- all of his retirement savings.
"He said to the folks 'I don`t have any more money to win.' Part of the catch, 'I`m going to help you out as long as you pay me back some of the money,'" Larson said.
There is a new layer to the foreign lottery scheme.
"When he ran out of that money, the scammers started explaining to him, 'hey look, we have sponsors here that can help you,'" Larson said.
Essentially, the con artists would tell other victims they too won the lottery, and to send their fee money to the original victim.
"Instead of sending money directly to Jamaica, they would send money to our victim," Larson said.
The move helped the con artists perpetuate the scam.
"It`s more legit because they aren`t sending it to another country," Larson said.
Postal inspectors warn all consumers to remember:
"Foreign lotteries are illegal. You have to be on their soil to participate in their lottery," Larson said.