An elderly victim in Roanoke Rapids was taken for what city police Chief Chuck Hasty said was thousands of dollars in a scam grand prize drawing.
Hasty said the matter was reported to police in the early part of July.
This scam, Hasty said in a statement, involved winning money from a drawing.
The scam required the victim to call a number and then send in money before they could claim the grand prize.
Hasty said the following is important to remember when receiving such material in the mail:
Realize scam artists are professionals — everyone is a potential victim.
Suspect all get rich fast schemes.
Image of the letter.
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.
If you think you’ve found a good deal, but you aren’t familiar with the company, check it out.
Type the company or product name into your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” See what comes up on the first page of results as well as on the later pages.
Never pay fees first for the promise of a big pay-off later — whether it’s for a loan, a job, a grant or a so-called prize.
Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back.
Don’t reply to messages asking for personal or financial information.
Don’t play a foreign lottery.
Report scams
If you think you may have been scammed file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. If you are outside the U.S., file a complaint at econsumer.gov.
Visit the Federal Trade Commission's website to find out how to minimize your risk of identity theft.
Report scams to your local law enforcement agency and the state Attorney General's Office.
If you get unsolicited email offers or spam, send the messages to
If you get what looks like lottery material from a foreign country through the postal mail, take it to your local postmaster.
