You should think twice before sending money to someone who says you have won a contest through Reader's Digest.
OXFORD COUNTY - People in Oxford County and beyond are still being tricked by the Reader's Digest scam.
They're being contacted by fraudsters claiming to be with the magazine or Publishers Clearing House.
They will say you have won money or a car through one of their contests.
Lisanne Roy Beauchamp, a Call Centre Operations Supervisor with the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre, says that's when they will try to trick you out of your hard earned money.
"Either a small advanced fee to cover some kind of a tax, legal fee, shipping or customs. The more they communicate with the fraudster they keep being asked for additional fees and by the end of it you will get nothing back."
Roy Beauchamp says they will try to drain you for every penny you have; even when you tell them you can't afford to pay up.
"Sometimes the fraudster will say they will help cover those fees, so you'll receive either a counterfeit cheque in the mail or another form of payment that isn't going to give you any money at the end of the day. Essentially anytime you are forwarded funds know that you're then asked to forward money back in a different method and at the end of the day you're going to be the one who owes that money back to the bank."
The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre receives calls and online reports of this scam every day.
If you receive a call, letter, e-mail or social media message about this please contact the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8301. You can also submit an online report here.
If you have physical evidence of this scam (ex: letters, online transaction receipts, etc) Roy Beauchamp says you should bring it to local police.
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