Beware of Online Lottery Scams

[TexasStooge]

Online lottery win 'landed me in jail'

By GARY REAVES / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Joe Matlock's job is working for a North Dallas veterinarian but he loves to play lottery games online. Tuesday looked like his lucky day.

"It said I had won the second category," he said.

He'd supposedly won $1,000,000. He got a $3,900 check, to cover some fees.

"I'm looking at this check - it's got watermarks and everything on. It looked like a legit check so I'm wondering if I really won?"

Friends at work saw the letter and check but were leery.

"We suggested he go to the bank or go somewhere and see if it was real," said one friend.

He took it to an Ace check cashing shop. He says he asked if the check was legitimate. Ace says he just tried to cash it but with one phone call, Ace determined the check was phony.

"Next thing I know the police are walking through the door," said Matlock.

He spent two nights in jail and now faces a felony forgery charge - police say he never claimed he'd been scammed.

"I understand that's what he told you, we have received a different version from the folks at Ace check cashing," said a police spokesman.

Internet fraud experts say overseas scammers, who print phony checks and money orders, are devising schemes to get unsuspecting Americans to cash them, and send the money overseas. Police say anyone who gets a suspicious check can call them to get it checked out.

"It's cost me money and pain and grief for being in jail for something I didn't do," said Matlock.