The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office has created a Senior Handbook in order to help seniors (and all other citizens) become more informed on important issues such as consumer protection, scams, insurance benefits, senior benefits, health care, and much more.  To view this publication, please click on the link below. 

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LOCAL SCAM INFORMATION

A few of our local residents have brought the following scams to our attention:

1. Letters are circulating from the El Ministros Consultant S.A. out of Madrid, Spain, advising people that that their name was attached to a ticket which drew a set of lucky numbers which consequently won the lottery.  It informs people to contact their global claiming agent to begin their lottery claim, as well as that 5% of the Lottery Winnings belongs to the El Ministros Consultant S.A. because they are the promotion company that bought the ticket and played the lottery with their name.  A payment processing form is enclosed in Spanish, along with a request for your bank, bank account number, and credit card numbers.
   
   
2. Letters are circulating from the Award Notification Commission in Kansas City, KS, advising people to follow a set of instructions in order to claim a million dollar prize in one of two payment options:  $33,334.00 annually for 30 years or a lump sum payment of $528,000.00.  The letter asks for a payment of $11.89 in order to secure the premium offer for delivery.
   
   
3. Letters are circulating from the Award Payment Data Release Div. in Jericho or East Meadow, NY, advising people to follow a set of instructions in order to claim a $1,400,000.00 prize by mailing in a fee of $19.99 within 10 days of receipt of the letter.
   
   
4. Letters are circulating from a RetailTrack Mystery Shopping and Consulting company based out of Troy, NY (not to be confused with RetailTrack Mystery Shopping and Consulting / Belding Skills Training & Development based out of Kanata, ON) advising people that they have been selected to participate in a paid Consumer Research Program in our area of residence as a Mystery Shopper.  It informs the individual that the objective of their paid assignment is to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of Western Union.  A check is included with the letter, often in the amount of $4,000 with the payee being DeMontrond Automotive Group, Inc. of Houston, TX.  The letter asks you to cash the check, keep $400 for yourself, and wire the remaining $3,600 through Western Union.  Do not attempt to cash this check – please destroy it immediately.
   
   
5. Letters are circulating from the Active Capital Group Client Services Department in Amsterdam, Netherlands, asking people to accept appointment as a Cash Income Beneficiary in the Platinum Speculative Financial Trust Fund.  It advises that the total amount available for distribution to you will depend on the outcome of the commercial in confidence speculative financial transactions but could be as much as $15 million dollars.  The letter asks you for submit a $14.87 administration fee.
   
   
6. Letters are circulating from the World Wealth Distribution Office of Bond University in Australia notifying people that they are eligible for a cash grant of $25,000.00.  The letter asks you to submit a $10.00 consignment fee.
   
   
7. Letters are circulating from James T. Barnaby, Secretary General of the UBI Payment Services and World Wealth Distribution in Australia notifying people that they are eligible for the final play-off in the UBI Payment Services Contest for $5,000.00 and for your very own personal USA Powerball numbers sets which guarantee you would receive two divisional CASH prizes and the chance to win the major minimum jackpot prize of $15 million dollars.  The letter asks for you to submit a $10.00 fee.
   
   
8. Letters have been circulating from James Walters, Lady K. Royce, and Sir R. Page of the Australian Lotteries Board Commission based out of London, UK notifying people that a release of Lottery Winners International programs was completed and they have won 2.8 million dollars.  It advises people that in order to proceed with your claim and as part of their security protocol, this information must be kept away from the public to avoid unwarranted abuse of the program.  It asks people to call an OSA Agent, Richard Evans and wire approximately $1500 to him in London in order to begin your claim.
   
   
9. Emails have been circulating from someone who identifies themselves as Robert Mueller III, Executive Director FBI.  The email addresses are listed as info@fbi.gov, fbisecuritywatch09@oued.org, or fbi.gov.usaxxxx60@earthlink.net.  The email subjects are listed as “Payment Notification from FBI” or “FBI Seeking to Wiretap Internet.”  The emails reference a transaction with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and tells the recipient that the transaction is legal, but they must choose one option of payment to ensure quick delivery of a parcel containing an ATM card related to the transaction.  The options include sending $600 for 24 hour delivery, $480 for 2 day delivery, or $400 for 3 day delivery.

Please be advised that these letters are scams.  If you receive these letters or a similar letter, please destroy it. 

If you wish to file a consumer complaint, please do so with the Division of Consumer Protection with the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.  The Division of Consumer Protection has the authority to investigate deceptive or misleading business/trade practices and take legal action on behalf of the State of South Dakota.   

From the South Dakota Homeland Security Office (August 22, 2008)

The South Dakota Office of Homeland Security has been advised of a phone scam that started in Aberdeen this August 22, 2008.  The caller calls the public and leaves a recorded message.  The recorded message states that their credit card account at the credit union has been de-activated.  The caller requests them to hit the number "1" on their phone.  They are then asked to give their account number.

The victim does not talk to a live person.  All the messages are recorded.  In some cases the scam artist uses the identity of Wells Fargo.  The caller's numbers are 6 digit numbers such as 206-766, 208-788, etc.  The calls are coming in on home land-lines, cell phones, and On-Star phones.

If victims have given out their account information, they should immediately contact their bank.

The South Dakota Office of Homeland Security has also been advised that this scam has also migrated to the Huron area.

The Aberdeen credit unions have put out messages to the local radio stations that these phone calls are a scam.  The Aberdeen American News has been contacted with the information so they can put it out in both the paper and on their website. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have been notified.