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Pensioners must beware being fleeced in 'big win' lottery scams warn police
International lottery scammers are preying on vulnerable residents in the Don and Dearne, police have warned.
Cops are urging residents to beware, should they receive a call congratulating them on winning the "big prize" after an 86-year-old woman was conned out of 32,000.
The Rotherham pensioner was told she had won 400,000 on the Spanish and Canadian lottery. But the fraudsters told her she would have to send them 1,800 to "release" the winnings.
She sent the money – and was then targeted another 15 times until she had forked-out over 32,000 to addresses in Madrid, and Ottawa in Canada.
A 91-year-old man, also from the Rotherham borough, was called and told he had won a fortune – but that he needed to send 4,000 first.
However, the suspicious pensioner did not fork out. Police are now warning residents to ignore any such calls.
A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: "People have lost thousands through such schemes. The prize doesn't exist, and the 'winner' never receives any winnings in return for their cash.
"Often, the elderly are targeted in this scam, and are advised not to tell family and friends about their alleged 'win'."
The spokesman added: "If you haven't entered a lottery then you can't have won it. No official lotteries that we know of contact people to tell them of their win.
"No official lottery operators will ask for fees to collect winnings."
Anyone who thinks they have been targeted, should report the scam to Action Fraud via www.actionfraud.org.uk, call 0300 123 2040, or ring the police on 0114 2202020.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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