November 22, 2021 - 1486 views
North Wales Police are warning of a sharp increase in lottery scams and asking that news is shared with elderly and the more vulnerable in our community.
Action Fraud have reported a dramatic increase in Advance Fee Lottery Frauds over recent months. Over £925,000 has been lost by victims over the last 6 months.
Victims have reported losing an average of just over £1,500 with 70% of victims aged 50 or over.
Lottery fraud occurs when criminals use fake messages and calls to convince a person that they have won a lottery or a prize draw. The victim is then informed that they will need to pay an advance “fee” in order to receive the winnings.
Unsolicited offers of large sums of money in return for a small upfront payment should always raise a red flag. Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Consider if this could be fake. After all, you can’t win a prize in a competition you didn’t enter. Remember, it’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
