Lottery Scam This scam begins when you receive a letter claiming you’ve won a lottery you haven’t even entered. The sender says you must pay ‘administrative fees’ to process your winnings, usually between $3,000 and $5,000. The thieves send a check to “cover” this fee, asking you to deposit the check and wire the funds back. The check is counterfeit, the money is gone, and you’re left with an overdraft to resolve with your bank. Wire Fraud This common fraud often targets professional services companies such as law offices. Here’s one scenario: After making contact over the phone or email, the fraudster sends a bogus cashier’s check, claiming it’s a settlement related to a debt, divorce, or business transaction. The victim is told to keep a portion of the sum as a retainer fee and wire back the rest. Having wired the funds, the victim discovers that the check is counterfeit. To avoid falling for this scam, employees shouldn’t submit any wire transfers before investigating the request and receiving management approval. These organizations provide alerts about new scams. Check their websites periodically to stay informed. • FBI: fbi.gov/scams-safety • U.S. Postal Service: usps.com
• Federal Trade Commission: ftc.gov • Better Business Bureau: bbb.org
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