The OPP is warning residents that you do not need to pay a fee or tax to collect prize winnings in legitimate lotteries.
The warning comes as the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment is investigating a fraud where a victim was contacted and told they had won a large sum of money and a car in a lottery sweepstakes. However, the scammers said in order to collect the prize money, the victim would have to pay a number of taxes, legal fees and delivery costs. Police predict the victim paid out $60,000 in money transfers, gift cards, bank drafts and cheques. They informed police after no prize money was paid out.
Along with reminding that no legitimate lottery requires players to pay a fee, police also warn that this type of scam will try to trick victims into providing banking and personal information. If a scam artist contacts you, The OPP is asking the public to contact them or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.