THE LATEST PRIZE LETTER MAKING THE ROUNDS IS FROM A LAS VEGAS COMPANY... THAT CALL FOR ACTION HAS WARNED YOU ABOUT BEFORE.
IT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT SHOULD BE DESTINED FOR THE TRASHCAN.
REPORTER BETTY SEXTON SAYS... "THE CROOKS TRY TO ALARM YOU WITH THIS MAILER. THE OFFICIAL LOOKING DOCUMENT SAYS YOU'RE IN DANGER OF LOSING CLOSE TO 4 MILLION DOLLARS IN UNAWARDED MONEY... UNLESS YOU ACT QUICKLY.
THE GOAL... TO GET YOU TO SEND THEM 20-BUCKS WITHOUT GIVING IT A SECOND THOUGHT."
ELSE GREEN OF COLORADO SPRINGS ALMOST FELL FOR IT. SHE SAYS, "I OPENED IT, AND I WAS SURPRISED... AND HONESTLY... I WAS DUMB ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IT."
GREEN RECEIVED THE FIRST CLASS ENVELOPE CONTAINING A W-915 FORM... WHATEVER THAT IS. IT'S DESIGNED TO LOOK IMPRESSIVE.
THE FORM, WHICH CLAIMS TO BE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION... IS ADDRESSED TO GREEN'S HUSBAND... WHO PASSED AWAY TEN YEARS AGO... SO HEARING THAT 3-POINT-9 MILLION'S BEEN LOCATED IN HIS NAME... INTRIGUED HER.
BUT... THE FINE PRINT CLEARLY TELLS YOU THE OPPOSITE. IT SAYS... THIS COMPANY, CASH DISTRIBUTION REPORTING AGENCY... IS JUST A RESEARCH AND REPORTING SERVICE. IT GOES ON TO SAY... THIS IS NOT A SWEEPSTAKES OR AWARD NOTIFICATION... AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU'VE WON ANYTHING.
IT LOOKS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO A MAILER WE SHOWED YOU LAST JULY... THE BIG DIFFERENCES... THE NAME OF THE COMPANY AND THE AMOUNT OF THE UNAWARDED MONEY.
KATIE CARROLL WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OF SOUTHERN COLORADO... SAYS THE COMPANY USES 5 DIFFERENT NAMES... AND MORE THAN 80 PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT TO THE BBB.
KATIE SAYS, "IF YOU HAVE WON SOMETHING, REALLY LEGITIMATELY WON SOMETHING... YOU ARE NOT ASKED TO PAY ANYTHING, NOTHING. SO THAT'S A TIP OFF RIGHT THERE."
SEXTON SAYS, "I CALLED THE COMPANY AND ITS' VOICEMAIL MESSAGE IS CLEAR. YOUR $20 PAYS FOR A NEWSLETTER THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT DIFFERENT SWEEPSTAKES YOU CAN ENTER... SOMETHING YOU CAN FIND OUT ABOUT ON YOUR OWN.
OUR ADVICE... SAVE YOUR 20 BUCKS AND THROW THIS ONE AWAY."