Spinning lies: warning of lottery con from Australia (From Enfield Independent)

Spinning lies: warning of lottery con from Australia

11:21am Wednesday 21st June 2006

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Enfield residents have been warned to be on the look-out for a lottery scam from Australia which has more spin than Shane Warne'.

Enfield Council's trading standards team has warned the con from down under promises a $750,000 prize but asks contestants to pay local taxes and insurance to release the money.

To encourage people to part with their cash by money transfer, lottery organisers send a cheque for $4,880 to punters as an advance on their winnings.

However the cheque is fake and will take around six weeks to be rejected by the banking process.

Enfield Council trading standards group manager, Charles Wallace, said: "This one is certainly clever and has a cynical twist, but don't be fooled it's got more spin on it than a Shane Warne delivery.

"We haven't had any examples of this con in Enfield yet, but as we know this country has a love of some aspects of Aussie culture, we could expect it coming our way soon.

"While we love Aussie soaps, sport and beer we can do without their con tricks."

Mr Wallace said it is important to remember that legitimate lotteries do not ask players to pay taxes, custom fees, insurance shipping or handling or any other fee before paying out winnings.

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