Salisbury Police Department Pres Release

The Salisbury Police Department is currently monitoring an increase in complaints regarding a mail fraud scam.

The scam involves the potential victim receiving a notice in the mail, often accompanied by a check, informing the victim that he/she has been chosen as a winner of an international contest. The winner is instructed to deposit the enclosed check into the bank and to keep an amount of currency from the deposit, then to return the balance to the sweepstakes company by money transfer or wire. The sweepstakes corporation is normally an international company. The victim later finds that the check is fraudulent and becomes responsible for the amount of the deposit that was withdrawn to complete the money transfer. The letter often tells the victim that this check is the first installment of a much larger winning amount.

The public is advised to be cautious of any notification of winning a contest that was not entered and particularly those that require the winner to return amounts of U.S. currency.

If anyone receives such a mailing or a similar contest notification and has questions as to the validity of the company or contest, they are asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165.