Justice Department makes major mail fraud bust

Published: Updated:
WINK News

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday it had shut down a direct mail scheme that defrauded Americans out of more than $29 million.

The scheme operated in the form of a phony contest, reeling people in via mailings that told them they won cash or prizes and needed to send a small amount of money for processing fees or taxes. The scammers would take the fees and never send the “winnings.”

The Justice Department also stopped a money-laundering scheme out of Canada, and a Netherlands operation that received and processed victims’ payments.

If you suspect that you’re a victim of a contest scam, file a complaint online here or here.

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