411 New York

SWEEDEN (OCN) — Below is a scam from North America Property Exchange which uses the address PO Box 294 Lake Grove, NY 11755-0294 that is already seen in this scam.

Currently, this scam is affecting those in Sweeden, Poland, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand and Australia.

Are you affected? If so, please contact us.

John Doe: You are hereby officially notified of a merchandise or cash entitlement in the amount of US$ 10,000.00 awarded in Sweden Incentive Program TSM106. Please note unsigned facsimile cheque #8536 attached to this document.

Provided your pre-assigned Claim Number is officially verified as a match to the,cash entitlement, a valid US$ 10,000.00 Corporate Cheque will be issued in your name and sent to your home address via overnight courier service or International Postage.

No taxes will be withheld. Because the cash award may be considered as ‘Income,” the cash recipient may be required to submit applicable form(s) to the Tax Office. U.S. residents may be required to submit IRS Form 1099 to the U.S. Treasury Dept.

PROCESSING AND PROMOTION FEE. You must pay a nominal processing and promotion fee of US$ 35.95 to release your cash or merchandise entlilement (see Entitlement Manifest at left). Enclose this fee by cheque or money order/draft 7 in the envelope provided. You must also complete the CLAIM REQUEST FORM attached to the bottom of this document. No cash or merchandise entitlement will be issued until we receive your fee and completed Claim Request Form.

OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER. This is a merchandise incentive program. It is not a sweepstakes, lottery, or a game of chance. Your cash or merchandise entitlement is guaranteed by North American Property Exchange and will be released immediately upon receipt of your fee and completed Claim Request Form.

On behalf of North American Property Exchange, congratulations on your good fortune. Please respond immediately to ensure prompt delivery.

Kenneth O’Boyle

The next time you receive a letter, keep these tips in mind.

1. Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay or buy something to enter or improve your chances of winning, or to pay “taxes” or “shipping and handling charges” to get your prize. If you have to pay to receive your “prize,” it’s not a prize at all.
2. Sponsors of legitimate contests identify themselves prominently; fraudulent promoters are more likely to downplay their identities. Legitimate promoters also provide you with an address or toll-free phone numbers so you can ask that your name be removed from their mailing list.
3. Bona fide offers clearly disclose the terms and conditions of the promotion in plain English, including rules, entry procedures, and usually, the odds of winning.
4. It’s highly unlikely that you’ve won a “big” prize if your notification was mailed by bulk rate. Check the postmark on the envelope or postcard. Also be suspicious of telemarketers who say you’ve won a contest you can’t remember entering.
5. Fraudulent promoters might instruct you to send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier to enter a contest or claim your “prize.” This is a favorite ploy for con artists because it lets them take your money fast, before you realize you’ve been cheated.
6. Disreputable companies sometimes use a variation of an official or nationally recognized name to give you confidence in their offers. Don’t be deceived by these “look-alikes.” It’s illegal for a promoter to misrepresent an affiliation with — or an endorsement by — a government agency or other well-known organization.
7. It’s important to read any written solicitation you receive carefully. Pay particularly close attention to the fine print. Remember the old adage that “the devil is in the details.”
8. Agreeing to attend a sales meeting just to win an “expensive” prize is likely to subject you to a high-pressure sales pitch.
9. Signing up for a sweepstakes at a public location or event, through a publication or online might subject you to unscrupulous prize promotion tactics. You also might run the risk of having your personal information sold or shared with other marketers who later deluge you with offers and advertising.
10. Some contest promoters use a toll-free “800″ number that directs you to dial a pay-per-call “900″ number. Charges for calls to “900″ numbers may be very high.
11. Disclosing your checking account or credit card account number over the phone in response to a sweepstakes promotion — or for any reason other than to buy the product or service being sold — is a sure-fire way to get scammed in the future.
12. Your local Better Business Bureau and your state or local consumer protection office can help you check out a sweepstakes promoter’s reputation. Be aware, however, that many questionable prize promotion companies don’t stay in one place long enough to establish a track record, and the absence of complaints doesn’t necessarily mean the offer is legitimate.