New Hampshire Attorney General Philip McLaughlin today reissued a warning to New Hampshire consumers to be extremely careful when receiving telephone calls or letters advising them they have either won a significant amount of money or that money owed to them has been located. According to McLaughlin, typically the consumer receives a phone call advising them that the caller's company has discovered a large amount of money that is the consumer's and that for a fee the money will be sent to the consumer. The consumer is then asked to send money by Western Union money to the individuals who are almost always housed in Canada.

The scam seems to have increased in frequency with New Hampshire consumers. McLaughlin stated that recently a New Hampshire consumer received such a call and went so far as to go to a Western Union desk to wire $2,100 to a Canadian individual. Thankfully, an alert clerk at the store discussed the situation with the consumer and the consumer did not send the money. Unfortunately, a Meredith consumer was not so lucky. According to McLaughlin, earlier this month a consumer was contacted by someone who identified himself as being with the U.S. Customs, and who had intercepted two checks in which a consumer had won the Australian Lottery. The consumer sent the caller over $2,000.00 in "fees" before realizing the entire thing was a scam.

McLaughlin offers the following tips to consumers:

1. Always question the legitimacy of any solicitation you receive, especially when the phone call is not initiated by the consumer.

2. Never give out personal information without knowing to whom you are giving this information and what will be done with it.

3. Be especially cautious about providing your Social Security Number and bank account numbers.

4. Call the Better Business Bureau or the Consumer Protection Bureau to check the legitimacy of the business.

McLaughlin reminds consumers to be skeptical about any unsolicited phone call, fax, or letter that asks for the consumer to send money in order to obtain or receive the product or service being offered.

If consumers receive such a telephone call, fax or letter, they are requested to contact the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Bureau at 271-2641. Consumers with more questions can also visit the Bureau's website.