Victim Gets Money Back After FaceBook Lottery Scam

(SEYMOUR TWP, ON) –On October 14, 2015 Northumberland Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) entered into an investigation of fraud reportedly using Facebook messaging.

The Trent Hills resident reported receiving a Facebook (FB) message on October 9, 2015 from someone she thought was a FB ‘friend’ of hers. That person informed her that she was the winner of a Facebook lottery promotion in the amount of $100,000 and to contact a ‘claims agent’. The resident called the number provided and was asked to send $600 for shipping and handling costs. The money was sent via Canada Post as a registered letter to a Florida Post Office.

The very next day, she was contacted by that ‘agent’ and informed that a further $2,500 was required ‘to cover IRS costs’. The payment was made once again via Canada Post. On October 13, 2015 she was contacted a third time and asked to send more money at which time she became suspicious. It was at this point that she contacted her friend via phone and found out that the FB account she had been communicating with was not her friend and had been fraudulently created to look like that person. She then contacted police.

After a lengthy investigation by police, the money was found to still be in transit. With the co-operation of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in Boynton Beach, Florida, the two envelopes were intercepted before delivery and all the money was returned back to the resident.

US postal officials continue to monitor deliveries to that address.

Police would like to warn the public that unexpected ‘winnings’ are more than likely a fraud as was the case in this incident.

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