January 7, 2016

The Waynesboro Police Department wants citizens to be aware of another check scam involving letters and checks being sent to individuals indicating they won an international sweepstakes. The bogus letter and check are sent via U.S. Mail. The letters have an airmail stamp and foreign postmark. In the letter from “Shaw Financial Incorporated,” it states that the addressee is the recipient of a Consumer Sweepstake and the enclosed check of $3,950.00 is meant to cover processing fees.

If the check is deposited in the victim’s bank account, then the scammers can gain access to the victim’s funds remotely and have all the money in the account transferred to an oversees account. The letter and check is has several spelling and grammatical errors. The Police Department recommends that should if this type of letter and check (please see attachments) is received, they should be shredded or discarded immediately.

Please be reminded of an old adage which is applicable in this circumstance, “If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.”