Scam Alert

Published August 28, 2008

On Monday, August 25, 2008, Williamson County Schools was notified by law enforcement officials about a scam involving a false lottery.  A letter from a nonexistent group called “Golden Clearing House Sweepstakes” arrives in the mail.  The letterhead has a Canadian return address.  The letter claims that the recipient has won a contest but that fees associated with the prize must be paid before the full cash prize can be awarded.  A counterfeit check of over $3,000 made payable to the recipient is included with the letter as an alleged down payment on the sweepstakes award.  The counterfeit check we have seen purports to be from Williamson County Schools.  

The letter tells recipients to deposit the enclosed check and send a smaller payment of their own money to the sweepstakes to cover the fees.  Since the check is counterfeit, it will of course not be honored by banks once it is processed, and the recipients who send the requested payment lose their money.  

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Department is notifying appropriate federal authorities.  Anyone who receives this false sweepstakes letter should call WCSD Detective David Beard at 615-790-5554.