Dec. 17, 2004 – If you get a letter saying you've just won the "famous Spanish International Lottery" to the tune of 354,000 euros – sorry, you didn't. It's a scam.
And the scam has reached people in the V.I. via postal-snail mail, of all things. This letter comes to your post office box, not through the Internet, for a change.
James McCall, assistant Police commissioner, said Friday afternoon that a local citizen had brought the letter to his attention and he had verified it was a scam.
The letter that you will find linked below says, "Your name attached to the ticket number: 19,735, drew a luck winning number which consequently won the lottery in the third premium category."
All you have to do is send a copy of your passport or national identity card, along with an application that comes with the letter, via fax to an international phone number. "Don't do it," is the advice from the police and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
McCall said if you get a letter postmarked from Spain — that you aren't expecting, or don't recognize, don't open it and call ICE at 1-800-981-3030, 340-693-2253 or McCall at 340-774-2310.
McCall said to use common sense. "If you know you didn't enter, how can you expect to win."
According to sources at ICE it's an identity theft and mail fraud operation that is being perpetrated throughout the U.S.
To see the letter click here.
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