The Bermuda Police Service Financial Crime Unit continues to advise members of the public not to respond to unsolicited correspondence (via e-mail, fax, letter or telephone call) which claims to offer an amazing prize or cash reward – only if the ‘lucky winner’ is willing to send an amount of money first to ‘secure the winnings’ or other ‘promising opportunity.’

In the last week alone, the Financial Crime Unit has received four complaints relating to these ‘advanced fee frauds’ where - 

• One woman sent $17,000 to Nigeria having been informed that she had been awarded a random prize by The Microsoft Corporation.
• One woman lost $10,000 having been informed that she had won the Euro Lottery.
• One woman lost $6,000 in a scam having met a potential partner on a dating website. 
• One man invested a sum of money with an online investment firm which turned out to be bogus.

Once again, members of the public are advised to be extremely cautious when sending funds to persons who have contacted them unexpectedly, especially via the internet or to persons whose identity cannot be properly established. “If you have not entered an overseas lottery, the chances of you having won that lottery are extremely remote.” Also, it is unlikely that a recognized establishment will avoid conducting financial transactions using the banking system. If a person or entity insists that funds are transferred by any other means, additional scrutiny of the transaction is advisable.   

If you are in any doubt about a prospective financial transaction, please do not hesitate to contact the Financial Crime Unit on 295-0011.