Warning Over Scams

Dyfed Powys Police are currently receiving regular reports that members of the public within our force area are being specifically targeted by fraudsters.

The types of frauds currently coming to our attention are collectively known as Advance Fee Frauds

The term Advance Fee Fraud is well named, because whether it refers to a substantial Lottery win or an inheritance of £1,000s from a long lost relative the catch is always the same, in order to release the funds various processing fees or taxes have to be paid first, in advance.

It is only after victims have sent, often £100s or £1,000s that they eventually realise that there was no lottery win and there was no inheritance; and that it was all a scam.

The lottery scams tend to be based on the Canadian or Spanish Lotteries or more recently the Euromillions Lottery.

Detective Inspector Richard Hopkin of the Financial Crime Team said: "These types of fraud prey on an individual’s hopes of getting something for nothing.

"It is quite simple - if you haven't bought a lottery ticket - then you cannot win the lottery; either here or abroad. Anyone who is asked to pay money upfront in this way needs to realise that it is a scam.

"Our advice is simple; if it sounds too good to be true it usually is too good to be true. To avoid becoming a victim in these circumstances, please don't ever send any money to anyone.

"We are working hard to combat these types of frauds and are currently delivering warning letters to all banks, building societies, Western Union money exchange outlets and Post Offices within our force area to ask for their support."