Naperville Police: It's No Sweepstake If You Have to Pay

Any sweepstakes that asks for money up front is no sweepstake. It’s a scam.

In the last two weeks, two elderly residents were targets of sweepstakes scams, losing several thousands of dollars, according to police. The wants to make sure others don’t make the same mistake.

The residents were told they were the winners of a substantial sum of money. They were contacted by mail and by phone; and the scam artists used the names of legitimate publishers. After being contacted, the residents were told that they must pay up front costs to cover fees, taxes and other costs before they could receive their prizes.

The scam artists will send out hundreds, if not thousands of these sweepstakes to people hoping that a few respond, said Sgt. John McAnally of the department's investigation unit.

Though only two people responded recently, many more residents have been victimized in similar schemes in the past, he said.

Often the people who fall victim to such scams are in a bind of some sort, McAnally said. “They see it as their prayers being answered.”

According to police, in one instance the offender actually mailed an “official check” drawn on a well-known bank payable to the victim. The victim was then advised to deposit the check, withdraw a certain amount, and wire the funds via Western Union to a subject in the Dominican Republic. The check later was found to be fraudulent.

Police want to make sure that residents know there are no legitimate sweepstakes that require payment up front. And, anyone contacted should never cash or deposit a check from someone they do not know.

Here are three tips from the Naperville police to avoid being scammed or becoming a victim of identity theft:

• Have a credit check run from the three credit reporting agencies every year. The credit checks are free once a year.
• Never give out personal information through email or phone. The only exception is when you know the person or entity. For example, do not provide personal information from a bank seeking unsolicited information. Only do so if you contacted the person or entity.
• There are no lotteries or sweepstakes that require money up front, or which require you to cash a check and send funds back.

Anyone who believes they may have been the target of a sweepstakes scam or who received an unsolicited check in the mail is asked to contact the Naperville Police Department at 1-630-420-6666.