DiNapoli warns of lottery scam

Criminals are running a lottery scam using fake checks that look as if they were issued by the state, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said Friday.

The checks bear DiNapoli's forged signature and come with a letter claiming that the victim has won a lottery or sweepstakes drawing.

The catch is that to claim the prize, the "winner" must deposit the check and transfer the money to a fictitious company, allegedly to cover taxes.

When the fraud is eventually discovered, the victim is on the hook for the money that was wired, the comptroller's office said.

"An offer of easy money is usually too good to be true and that is the case here," DiNapoli said in a news release. "If you receive one of these fraudulent checks, please report it my office immediately."

The scam came to the state comptroller's attention when more than a dozen fake checks were deposited beginning last month for roughly $4,000 to $5,000.

The letters bore the names of "Guaranty Trust Inc." and "Golden Gateway Financial." They said the checks would cover the taxes due on the "winnings" from the "American Lottery Sweepstakes Millions" or "Multi State Lottery Association," the comptroller's office said.

"No legitimate lottery ever makes you pay to get your winnings," DiNapoli spokesman Mark Johnson said.

Under federal law, banks are required to make funds available from government agencies the following business day, according to the Federal Trade Commission. A bank may not discover the forgery until weeks later and then makes the victim responsible for repaying funds withdrawn against the fake check.