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Talk about a wolf in sheep’s clothing! A new lottery scam has spread across the country using the name of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has built a solid reputation upon its eight foundation standards;

    • Build Trust
      • Advertise Honestly
        • Tell the Truth
          • Be Transparent
            • Honor Promises
              • Be Responsive
                • Safeguard Privacy
                  • Embody Integrity

                    Clearly if some unscrupulous party had intentions of projecting an image of trust and safety, there can hardly be a better organization to use in its ruse and this is exactly what has happened.

                    Lottery scams are probably the most popular type of fraud because they have been around for decades. The latest trickery involves a scheme that attempts to steal money from unsuspecting victims by claiming that they have won a monetary prize from the BBB.

                    In keeping with the textbook lottery scam format, the con artist contacts the victim either by email or by phone and then identifies themselves as a representative of the BBB. In some instances the victim is given the real name of a BBB employee and referred to a website biography so the victim is put at ease.

                    They are then informed of the fake lottery or prize and told that they need to send some money to cover taxes or transmittance fees to claim the rest of the money.

                    So far this scam has defrauded at least one unsuspecting person of approximately $80,000.

                    In a statement issued by the BBB, the President and CEO, Steven Cox reminded members of the public that “Many people are struggling in the current economy and when someone tells you that you’ve won millions in a lottery, it can seem like an answer to prayer” however he cautioned that the BBB has never and will never operate a lottery or award any type of prize.

                    The BBB is an organization that accredits businesses according to established principles and standards and simply put, its stamp of approval or rating is the only thing the BBB is primed to bestow on its customers.

                    To avoid becoming the victim of a lottery scam in the name of the BBB or any other company it pays to remember some basic tenets;

                      • You should never have to pay money to receive a prize.
                        • You should always check the story out completely using only reputable sources.
                          • The receipt of a check followed by the request for money to fund the remainder of the prize winnings is a sure sign of a scam.

                            We would all love to be on the receiving end of a lottery win, however the chances of this kind of windfall are far and few between. Use caution and common sense to avoid being the next victim of unscrupulous con artists.



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