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ScamState: Lottery & sweepstakes scams

Lottery & sweepstakes scams take advantage of your excitement about "winning." Prosecuting scam artists is tough, especially since many operate from foreign countries.

By Helen Huntley and Becky Bowers, Times Staff Writers
Published March 9, 2008

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Lottery & sweepstakes scams take advantage of your excitement about "winning." Prosecuting scam artists is tough, especially since many operate from foreign countries.

Example: Federal prosecutors completed a case just a few months ago against Vasilios "Billy" Kolitsidas and Serges "Jack" Descent, who operated a lottery scam out of St. Petersburg and Montreal in 1998 and 1999. Kolitsidas was sentenced to five years in prison and Descent to 10 years, and they jointly were ordered to pay $1.5-million in restitution. The scam used telephone solicitations to target elderly people. Callers sometimes claimed to be representatives of the Canadian government.

1. The good news! A phone call, e-mail or letter tells you you're the lucky winner of a lottery or a sweepstakes or even an inheritance.

2. The hitch: Before the fabulous payoff can be sent to you, taxes, insurance or fees have to be paid. But what's a few hundred when millions are at stake?

3. The followup: If you make a payment, the scammers will concoct a reason to request even more money. As for your fabulous prize - you won't see a dime.

Tips

Assume all foreign lottery and sweepstakes solicitations are scams. If you did not enter, you did not win.

You would not have to send money if you won a legitimate lottery or sweepstakes or a long-lost relative named you in her will. Any fees or taxes would be deducted from your windfall.

Learn more, and share your scam story, at money.tampabay.com.

[Last modified March 7, 2008, 22:39:27]