Lottery scam warning (From Barry And District News)

Lottery scam warning

9:00am Sunday 27th May 2007

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POLICE have warned people across the Vale not to be fooled by a Spanish lottery scam.

Hundreds of people in Barry and the wider Vale have received a letter informing them of a 615,810euro - £430, 000 - jackpot win.

Winners' are then asked to forward personal bank details in order to collect the prize.

A police spokeswoman said: "We are warning the public against this lottery scam.

"Residents have received a letter through the post from Ventura, Cruz & Associates - who claim to be attorneys of Law and legal consultants.

"Within the letter, it states that you are the 'true beneficiary of prize money from the Lotteria La Primitiva'.

"Police urge the public to ignore this letter and hand it in to your local police station - it's a scam where dishonest people are attempting to obtain money through unlawful acts and are committing serious fraudulent offences."

Barry & District News reader Ronald Peck, 70, received one of the scam letters last week.

Mr Peck said: "My first thought was if it's a lottery, surely at some point you would've had to buy a ticket?

"I haven't been to Spain since 1991 so there's no way I could have bought one, yet they've got my name and address from somewhere.

"The worry is if people don't read the letter properly they could be taken in by it." added Mr Peck "But alarm bells should be ringing when they ask for your bank details."

If you would like further advice, contact Crime Prevention Officer PC Dick Collins on 01446 731627.

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