(Copy of letter)
THE ORLEANS COUNTY MAJOR FELONY CRIME TASK FORCE ALONG WITH THE ORLEANS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING A MAIL SCAM, WHERE AN ORLEANS COUNTY RESIDENT RECEIVED A LETTER INDICATING THEY WON $550,000.00 FROM PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE AND ACCOMPANIED WITH THE LETTER WAS A CHECK FOR $7,897.00 WHICH THE LETTER CLAIMED WAS PART OF THE WINNINGS.
INVESTIGATORS MADE CONTACT WITH SUN TRUST BANK AND LEARNED THIS SCAM WAS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE CHECK WRITTEN FOR $7,897.00 WAS COUNTERFEIT AND IT WAS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THEIR SECURITY DEPARTMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.
PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND WAS AWARE OF THE SCAM, THEY STATED THAT ANY PRIZES ISSUED BY THEM ARE ALL MADE IN PERSON, NOT THROUGH THE MAIL.
THE ORLEANS COUNTY MAJOR FELONY CRIME TASK FORCE AND THE ORLEANS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE RESIDENTS OF ORLEANS COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES AWARE OF THIS CURRENT MAIL SCAM WHICH IS TYPICALLY DESIGNED TO TARGET THE ELDERLY.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS RECEIVED THIS TYPE OF LETTER, OR ARE SUSPICIOUS OF MAIL YOU RECEIVE REGARDING THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY, PLEASE NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS INVESTIGATION IS ON GOING.