The document discusses the lottery scam, also known as the Jamaican lottery scam or 876 area code scam. It begins with victims receiving unsolicited notifications that they have won a large prize or lottery. Scammers then demand money for fees like taxes or shipping before the victim can receive their winnings. The scammers prefer payment through money transfer services like Western Union or Green Dot cards. Victims never receive any winnings and are often targeted by additional scams after being initially victimized. The lottery scam is estimated to generate $300 million annually and is linked to hundreds of murders in Jamaica where many of the scams originate from.

1. A Lottery Scam, aka “Jamaican Lottery Scam” or “876 Area Code Scam” is a type of
advanced-fee fraud which begins with a consumer receiving an unsolicited notification generally
via mail, email, or phone. The notification usually alleges that the consumer has won a large sum
of money, sometimes including a high class vehicle. The notifications usually stress the
consumer to keep the winning as confidential and demand the consumer call their selected agent
before making any more decisions with the notification. When consumers make contact with the
scam artist, the scammers tend to be impatient with the consumer. The scammer will always
request money from the consumer in order to process the winnings. Scammers claim this
requested money is for “Government Taxes”, “Shipping & Handling”, and even “Insurance”.
Green Dot Money Pak aka Green Dot Money Cards are becoming the preferred payment for
scam artists in the Lottery Scam Industry.
The truth is, it is against the law for companies in the Lottery Industry to charge money for a
winning. Scam artists’ preferred method of payment is via Western Union or Green Dot Money
Cards, aka Green Dot Money Pak. Mailings will sometimes include a check that the scammers
request the consumer to deposit and then wire funds from this amount to the scammer in order to
pay the “fees”. This check, after funds have been transferred, typically bounces, leaving the
consumer to pay the bad check fees. The scammers have been known to disappear after this,
destroying their phones known as “throw away phones”. The FBI estimates that these phones
have a life span of 60 hours. Other instances have even gone as far as the scammers selling the
consumers information to other scammers to be taken advantage of even further. In all cases, the
consumer never receives any winnings.
The scam generally originates from Jamaica, where fraud is nothing less than an organized crime
with the Jamaican Observer saying that more than 30,000 calls are made from the country about

2. such hoaxes every day. In 2006, the Better Business Bureau received nearly 8,200 inquiries from
consumers on foreign lottery scams, a 14 percent increase from the previous year. The Lottery
Scam is estimated to generate some $300 Million per annum, making fraud one of Jamaica’s
largest export industries. Lottery Scams are thought to be responsible for at least 500 murders
over the last 5 years and for half the gun crime in Jamaica.
Identification:
Example of a check sent to consumers by scam artists. Scam artists send these checks,
accompanied by a letter stating they have won a large sum of money. They then ask consumers
to deposit this check and wire them the funds from it.
• Were you sent a check or money order with your notification? Fraudulent promoters will
sometimes send a check or money order along with notification to convince you they are real.
While the checks and money orders may look official, they are counterfeit!
• Are you asked to wire transfer money or mail a personal check to cover some type of fee or
taxes? Fraudulent promoters will ask you to deposit the check or money order and then instruct
you to wire money or send a personal check back to them to cover what may seem like legitimate
fees, such as processing, administrative, handling or tax fees. They also may instruct you to call a
number to claim your winnings. When you do, they will try to get you to send money or ask for
personal identification information that will undoubtedly be used for identity theft purposes. If
you deposit a bogus check or money order in your bank account, keep in mind that you will be
held responsible for any money you spend or send to anyone else.
• Does the lottery promoter’s name and address on the check match the name and address on the
envelope? In many instances it does not. The company name is usually different on the check,
the bank name on the check is fraudulent and the account number stolen – making the check a
counterfeit. Sponsors of legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes identify themselves prominently on
their checks and on the envelopes.

3. • Are the notifications sent by people claiming to be bankers, gaming officials, claims agents, tax
collectors, attorneys, or a high ranking government official? Scam artists will use any number of
titles in an effort to convince you that they are legitimate.
Side Effects:
Many consumers who have fallen victim to the Lottery Scam should be especially cautious.
Many scammers will use the information of previously scammed victims and sell this
information to other scam artists. Consumers may begin receiving phone calls from other people
claiming to represent law firms or policing agencies alleging the consumer has been involved in
some sort of money laundering scheme or has a debt due and must pay immediately. If the
consumer objects to pay, the caller then threatens the consumer with lawsuits, warrants, or even
arrest. Avoid giving any private information such as social security numbers, credit card
numbers, or bank account information to anyone you do not know over the phone and simply
demand that the person send you written proof of the debt. If they cannot supply proof of what
you owe, it most likely is not legitimate.
What to do if you have been victimized:
If you feel that you have been a victim of this scam, you should contact your local police
department and file a report. You may also wish to contact your local Better Business Bureau
(BBB) , the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) .
With this type of issue, the best way to prevent it is word of mouth. Make sure to discuss this
with family and friends. Victims can become embarrassed or frightened by the scams that they
may be hesitant to share information, even with their closest relatives. If you believe someone
you know has been victimized, let them know that they are not alone and it is not something to
be embarrassed of. Their voice needs to be heard in order to keep others from falling victim to
this scam.
• Report check fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.
• Report postal mail fraud to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at
http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov.
• File complaints against businesses at www.bbb.org.
• If the phony check was drawn on a federally insured financial institution contact the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation at 877-275-3342 or www.fdic.gov.
• If the phony check was drawn on a foreign bank, contact the United States Secret Service by

4. visiting www.secretservice.gov.
• If the phony check comes from scam artists impersonating a real business or organization,
notify that business or organization.
Stories:
An 82 year old man was contacted by someone claiming he won $22 Million. They demanded
money for taxes and other fees. The man’s family has estimated he has sent the scammers
between 3 and 5 Million dollars. The family noticed the man had become secretive about the
lottery and is now so traumatized by the scam that he has been unwilling to cooperate with
authorities investigating the case. He is not cooperating out of fear that the scammers will kill
him if he stops cooperating with them.
A woman was contacted saying she had won a $2.5 Million sweepstakes. She was skeptical but
they assured her she was entered to win by a store she shopped at. She sent a small fee to process
the winnings, $150,000. She never received the winnings and filed for bankruptcy.
“It all started with a phone call claiming he won the lottery and a car – he just needed to pay a
transfer fee to collect the winnings,” said Kim Nichols, whose father lives in Ossipee, and sent
more than $85,000 to the scammers. “Over the next few months scammers preyed on his
emotions and gained his trust, coercing him into providing personal information and sending
large sums of money. They stopped at nothing to get money and regularly claimed they were
FBI, Custom’s and IRS agents.” "Warren" (name omitted to protect his privacy) is a trusting,
highly-educated professional. He has degrees from both Dartmouth and Harvard. He did well
with his investments. Unfortunately, a few years ago he began receiving phone calls and letters
from what appeared to be official government organizations and official lotteries. The calls and
letters promised large sums of money to Warren. In some cases, he was to send the scammers
“investment” funds. In others, he was to send them money to cover “expenses and fees” before
they could release money allegedly due to him. The calls and correspondence were frequent;
Warren was overly trusting and was essentially brainwashed by these scam artists.