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More scams surfacing locally For at least the third time so far this year, someone has tried to work a scam on a Madison County resident, this one involving a lottery. Patrick Bullard informed The Meteor last week he had received a check for $4,200 from Larson/Glastron/Seawirl, Inc. in Minnesota. He was instructed to cash the check and send $3,200 to one of two fee agents, one in Canada, the other in South Africa, and keep the remainder. The check was sent under the pretense that Bullock had been one of those selected from a group drawing who had a “lucky winning number.” Bullock did not recall ever having entered any such contest. Along different lines, state authorities this week are warning Texans to be aware of a scam that has emerged in connection with the proposed federal economic stimulus package. Under recently passed legislation, the IRS will mail tax rebate checks to eligible taxpayers over the next few months. Several Texans recently filed complaints with the Office of the Attorney General after receiving unsolicited e-mails and telephone calls from purported IRS agents claiming that taxpayers are eligible for “Bush refunds.” The scammers demand taxpayers' Social Security and bank account numbers, claiming the IRS will use the information to directly deposit “rebate checks” into the taxpayers' accounts. This is outright identity theft fraud, says the state. The IRS does not call or e-mail taxpayers unexpectedly to demand personal information for direct deposits. Taxpayers solicited in this manner should just hang up or delete the e-mail. Texans who have received these bogus solicitations may file a complaint with the IRS at www.irs.gov or by calling 800-829-1040. Consumers also can report such calls to our office. Those who think they are the target or the victim of fraud should report it at once. Contact the state attorney general's office. Sweepstakes fraud may be reported to the Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov, or 877-382-4357, and the National Fraud Information Center at www.fraud.org.
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