Leader Staff
Scammers have been working the phones for years and were quick to adopt the Internet and other new technology to pull off their cons, but their latest twist uses old-fashioned “snail mail” to make their initial contacts with potential victims.
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department warned this week that letters have started showing up in some people’s mailboxes inviting them to take part in a quiz with the chance to win big money.
The quiz questions are deceptively simple, Detective Troy Ugoretz said.
“Anybody over the age of 8 could answer them,” he said.
Victims are then informed they’ve won the contest and are sent a bogus check. They’re also told they are eligible for a bigger prize of $50,000, which they can claim by mailing back $3,500.
In the case of a complaint the department received this week, the $3,500 was supposed to be mailed to an address in Australia.
The con is another variation on the scams seen in recent years through email offers and Craigslist ads that require you to send money to get money, or asks that you send back a portion of money from a bogus check.
Authorities say any offer with those kinds of terms should raise a red flag.
Though this latest tactic relies on the postal service, scammers haven’t abandoned technology.
Another scam seen in recent months involves a call from someone claiming to be with Microsoft tech support, claiming there’s a problem that requires access to your computer via the Internet.
Scammers have also figured out to disguise their identity over the phone by faking the number that shows up on Caller ID, a tactic called “spoofing,” Ugoretz said.
“If you didn’t initiate the call, or if you can’t shake hands with them, don’t do business with them,” Ugoretz said.