The latest lotto letter trying to swindle you out of your money surfaced last week.
It's from no surprise... Canada.
Excel investment services tells you... you won a contest last year but because of a mix up... the winners are just now being announced.
But the red flags are flying all over this one.
First off, the notification company, Excel Investment, is located in Canada.
So ask yourself... did you buy a lotto ticket in canada? do you live in canada? are you a canadian citizen?
If all the answers are no... then you can't possibly have won. It's illegal to play in a foreign lottery unless you're in that country at the time.
Second and most importantly, the letter asks you for money. If you won a legitimate contest, you never have to pay fees or taxes upfront. Uncle sam will want his cut... but you handle that on your own.
Wiring money overseas only guarantees you'll never see it again... nor know who's on the receiving end.
And the third red flag... the very authentic-looking enclosed check. It's a counterfeit. A call to the bank or business listed confirms the account does exist... but they don't know you and they never issued you a check.
Just remember... these letters and checks are easy to print up and circulate. They send out hundreds of them... and if just a handful of people fall for it... they make a bundle.