A new and seemingly brilliant Lottery scam has made its way into the county.

People receive a letter, mailed in Canada, stating they have won $65,000 in a "lottery, through a web databased computerized draw system."

In addition to the letter, there is a check on First Commonwealth Bank, Indiana, PA, in the amount of $2,600.15, which was supposedly deducted from the winnings for the purpose of tax fees.

The letter goes on to state that the tax amount is $1,750. The scammed winner is asked to send that amount to redeem the winnings - making it appear that he or she already has $1,050.15 of the money in their pocket.

Not so.

The $2,600.15 check will not clear the bank, and the scammed winner will actually be out the $1,750 - with no way to recover it.
A computer scan of the "Official Check" showed it to have "VOID - VOID - VOID imbedded in the color scheme of the check.

A full report on this scam will be printed in the June 21 edition of The Pocahontas Times.