Lottery scam costs Brantford senior $40,000

A Brantford senior lost $40,000 after falling victim to a lottery scam, according to police.

The 72-year-old woman was first contacted in November 2012 by a man who identified himself as a lawyer and told her that she had won the lottery, police said. The man then instructed her to transfer several payments through Western Union to claim her winnings. The woman ended up transferring more than $40,000 to an address in the Philippines.

Brantford police are warning residents to be vigilant of high-pressure sales tactics that require you to pay a fee to claim a prize, which may be an indicator of a possible scam.

Police say that legitimate sweepstakes do not:

• Randomly select non-entrants to award prizes.
• Use free email accounts, such as Yahoo and Hotmail, to communicate with you.
• Tell you to keep your winnings a secret.
• Ask winners to pay any fees upfront to receive a prize.
• Ask for personal and banking details.

Residents can also visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Competition Bureau for more information.