Lottery scams have resurfaced on the Big Island, according to the Hawai’i Police Department.
HPD says that a Hilo resident received a letter from the “International Lotto Commission,” which supposedly originated in Madrid, Spain.
The letter claimed that the recipient had won more than $4.5 million in a lottery held by “The World Lottery.”
Police say the letter and variations of it requested that the winner either send a processing fee to a “security company” in Spain or contact the lottery agent and provide financial account information so the funds can be deposited.
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“While people are becoming more aware of these scams and are more vigilant in prevention from becoming a victim, there are those unsuspecting individuals who still fall prey to these scams,” said Lieutenant Gregory Esteban from the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section. “If anyone receives an unsolicited letter or email that promises them a financial award in exchange for disclosing personal financial information, do not send any money or respond.”
Lieutenant Esteban says that intended victims should instead call the Police Department non-emergency line at 935-3311.
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