Kamloops This Week
Telus is warning Canadians about a surge in a common international lottery scam being sent via letter mail to residents of B.C., Alberta and Manitoba, falsely claiming an association with Telus and Koodo.
Known as an "advance-fee scheme," the scam involves letters that appear to be originating from England stating the recipient has won a $51,950 cash prize, and asking the recipient to deposit a money order to cover taxes and processing fees at their bank to claim the prize.
The letter includes a cheque to cover the recipient's costs; however, that cheque is forged and will bounce, while any money deposited will be lost.
The letters claim to be from an organization titled The National Lottery (in conjunction with Koodo Mobile and Telus Corporation). The letters state the recipient is a lucky winner in the World International Consumers and telephone users sweepstakes held in the United Kingdom on July 28.
These letters are fraudulent and they are in no way related to Telus or other companies with which the scam artists claim to be associated.
Telus recommends customers simply throw the letters in the recycling bin.
The RCMP anti-fraud department and Canada Post are aware of this scam and Canada Post is working to prevent the letters from entering the Canadian mail system.