Lottery Scam Uses CU Checks

MINNEAPOLIS - (11/14/05) -- Area financial institutions saidcustomers are receiving what looks like cashier checks from $2,000to $4,000 in the mail with a letter that states that they have wonthe lottery or sweepstakes in Canada. The people cash the checks,some of which appear to be issued by legitimate credit unions, thensend the money to the scam artist purportedly to pay for the taxeson the winnings. The checks look official and have the watermarkand actual credit union name on it, such as A-K Valley FCU, inPennsylvania, and Johns Hopkins FCU, in Baltimore. Authorities saythey think the checks are being sent to people who gamble or makepurchases on the Internet.