New scams target Fort Belvoir personnel

There is a new version of an old scam washing up on the shores of Fort Belvoir.

The new lottery scam uses a very authentic looking, but, very fake, money order to lure in the unsuspecting.

Here's the scam - you receive a letter from an individual or a lottery company, which includes a money order or check for a large sum of money - usually between $900 and $1,000.

The letter informs you that you have won a large cash lottery prize. The letter tells you that in order to claim your prize, you first need to pay a tax, or a fee, to collect the
truckloads of money you have just won.

The letter even includes a money order or check to cover the fee or tax. You are asked to cash the check, and wire the money back by Western Union or Money Gram to an agent of the lottery.

Never attempt to cash such money orders or personal checks. When they bounce, you will be liable to the bank for the money you received. If a bank mistakenly pays you for the money order or check, you will be required to repay every penny to the bank that was duped.

Also, it is a crime to attempt to cash money orders or checks when you should know them to be frauds. If you attempt to cash them, you will probably have committed a crime.
A couple of clear indicators you are dealing with criminals are the money is from a lottery for which you have not purchased a ticket and you need to send money to get money.
Finally, if you then send the money to the criminal posing as an agent for the fictional lottery, you have been doubly-scammed, and will never see the money again.

Remember, if you have not purchased a lottery ticket, you cannot win a lottery prize. This is true in the U.S. and every other country in the world. This is true even if you receive apparently legitimate money orders or personal checks from someone who tells you that you have won money.

Here is a link to a website created by the bank which was targeted by the criminals: http://www.cnbank.com/ news_detail.asp?newsid=1315

Another scam that has surfaced targets customers of the insurance agency USAA.

In one instance of this con, a servicemember received a letter in the mail replicating the company's letterhead and style. The letter informed the recipient about a problem with his
or her account and indicated he or she could call a toll-free number for more information.

The way it works is, you call the phone number listed on the letter. It sounds exactly like the USAA recording. You are prompted to enter either your USAA account number or your Social Security number. Either way, they've got your personal information and you've just been duped.

USAA confirmed the phone numbers listed on the letter are not authorized USAA customer service numbers and verified the letter is a fraud.

Remember to be careful of whom you give your personal information, and report all scams to your command, your legal assistance office, the Federal Trade Commission and your local police agency.