New Hampshire Attorney General Peter Heed, today issued a warning to New Hampshire consumers to be extremely careful when receiving telephone calls, faxes or letters advising them they have won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes.

"The new twist on this scam," Heed said, "is that consumers are being sent written notification on very official looking stationery that they have won the Spanish lottery." "Typically," Heed warns, "the Consumer is advised they only need to pay the processing and administrative fees to receive the money. This fee usually is between $10,000 and $50,000. The consumer is then asked to send money either by mail or by Western Union to the individuals who almost always have a Canadian address.

According to Attorney General Heed, "The Consumer Protection Bureau has received an increase in the number of inquiries about the legitimacy of these types of lotteries."

Attorney General Heed 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 and the claim is that the consumer has won a large amount of money;
2. Never give out personal information without knowing to whom you are giving this information and for what purpose;
3. Be especially cautious about providing your social security number and bank account numbers to individuals who ask for it;
4. Call the Better Business Bureau or the Consumer Protection Bureau to check for legitimacy of the business.

"An important reminder for consumers, also," Heed added, "is to know that it is illegal to play even legitimate international lotteries."

If consumers receive such a telephone call, fax or letter, they are requested to contact the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Bureau at 271-3641. Consumers with more questions can also visit the Bureau's website

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