We have all heard the saying, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. In this case the saying holds true. There is a scam going around and it has been impacting more and more people in this area as well as nationwide. Here is how it works: You receive a check in the mail, (usually $2,500 - $4,000) with this check you receive a letter advising you that you have won a lottery! The check looks authentic, and in some cases even has heat sensitive ink in a certain area bolstering its genuine appearance. The sender of the check says in an enclosed letter that you get to keep $1,000 of the money to show good faith, and the remainder needs to be returned to them for taxes on your winnings before they will release the entire winnings of a promised one million plus dollars.

Ok, so now you have won this big pot of money, you run to the bank and cash the check. In most cases the check is cashed without any trouble. You then send the required amount of money back to the lottery commission (usually someplace in Canada). You go on a spending spree in anticipation of your newfound wealth. A week or so later your bank calls. You discover that the check you cashed is counterfeit. The bank expects you to pay back the amount of the cashed check, and legally has a right to do so. Suddenly your euphoria turns to anger and denial. This can't be happening. I was rich a minute ago and now I am in debt trying to pay back the money. Meanwhile the scam artist is living it up on the money you sent in for "taxes".

How could this be prevented? Ask yourself:

Did you ever even enter this lottery?
Does it make sense that a lottery commission would ask you to send back money rather than just with holding it from your overall winnings?
Does this sound too good to be true?

We all would love the chance to be one of these lucky people, beat the odds and live the life we all dream of.

If you insist on cashing the check, do so but set the entire amount of money aside in an account so that when the bank calls, it can be returned without causing you monetary and emotional distress.