Beware of Bogus FTC Letter Claiming You Won $5000

Your BBB® continues to hear from consumers every day about letters they’ve received claiming that they’ve won some sweepstakes or lottery. Yesterday, the FTC posted a message about a new version of the scheme that appears to be from them.

According to the FTC, schemers are sending out letters claiming that you have won a cash prize. In order to claim your prize, you are asked to send in a $5000 “Legal Registration Bond.” The letter looks official and contains an FTC seal and is signed by “FTC Director” Jennifer Rich.

Here’s the catch: according to the FTC, there IS a Jennifer Rich that works there so if you were to research her name online, chances are you’d discover that fact and believe it to be real; however, the FTC states that Ms. Rich’s name is the only thing real about the letter.

In fact, the FTC stated the following:

-The FTC doesn’t oversee sweepstakes.

-No federal government agency will contact you to ask for money so you can claim a prize.

-If you enter and win a legitimate sweepstakes, you don’t have to pay insurance, taxes, or shipping charges to collect your prize. If you have to pay, it’s not a prize.

So if you or someone you know receives this letter or something similar, you can feel confident that it did not come from the FTC and that you didn’t actually win anything.