From staff reports
Oil City police are asking area residents to be on the lookout for potential scams after a man brought a suspicious correspondence to law enforcement’s attention this week.
The man received a letter in the mail stating that he had just won $1.3 million, but it said he must pay an acquisition fee to claim his prize.
“If it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” Oil City police chief Bob Wenner said.
Anytime a person is asked to send personal information or money, a red flag should immediately go up, Wenner said.
Wenner continued by saying thieves can make a letter look very professional through special printing, but the important part is to be diligent in looking for areas of concern.
Elderly individuals are common targets of such scams, and Wenner said people with older family members should help remind them of such dangers.
If someone does receive suspicious correspondence in the mail, on the phone or in an email, Wenner said the best course of action is to alert local police.
“These things are often difficult to track down,” Wenner said. “Law enforcement’s response is to make everyone aware.”
