February 14, 2013: The West Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community
Service Unit is assisting the London Health Sciences Foundation in creating awareness
of a recent phishing scam in relation to the Dream Lottery.
The persons responsible randomly call phone numbers until they find someone who
confirms that they did purchase a Dream Lottery ticket at the location cited.
Lottery officials were contacted by a Strathroy resident who received a call like
this, informing him that his ticket was a winner. The caller said the Strathroy
resident had purchased his ticket at a local store. To claim his "prize" of a Mercedes
car, the resident was told an $800 administrative fee had to be made in order to
claim the prize and that the fee had to be wired to a California address.
The resident became suspicious when and additional $2,000 was demanded. Acting on
his instinct, the resident wisely called the store, where he learned that there
were at least two other complaints of callers demanding payment of administration
fees. He then contacted the Dream Lottery where it was confirmed he was not a winter
and that no administration fees are ever charged for prize claims. Mercedes cars
were not offered as prizes in the recent lottery.
Police were contacted and the investigation is ongoing.
Police remind all citizens to always be alert and suspicious of offers that are
too good to be true. If in doubt whether or not you are a winner of a lottery, always
contact the lottery by phone or visit their website to validate your winnings. If
you feel you are the victim of a scam, contact police immediately. You can also
report scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at
www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
OPP Contact Information
- OPP Non-emergency Phone: 1-888-310-1122
- CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-T.I.P.S. (8477)
- OPP Website
- Winter Driving Information: 1-800-268-4686
-
Road Conditions
- Elgin County OPP: 519-631-2920
- Follow us on Twitter at:
www.twitter.com/OPP_News
- Provincial ROPE Squad: toll free at 1-866-870-ROPE (7673)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: toll free at 1-888-654-9426 or www.antifraudcentre.ca
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