Residents Report Sweepstakes Scam to Police

Two residents contacted the last week after receiving a "Capital Direct Lottery Sweepstakes" letter in the mail, enclosed with a check for $3938.25.

Sergeant Robert Bettencourt said the checks that were received looked legitimate, made out to each individual's name, including their addresses.

The scam, he said, told residents that they'd been placed in a drawing and won $250,000. The 'sweepstakes' enclosed a check for $3938.25, and said they would later send the entire amount, once the recipient sent a check for $1980 to pay the tax amount.

"Obviously the check they have is no good," Bettencourt said, "but it takes a couple of days to clear, and in the mean time [the resident will] send back the money."

Luckily, both the Milton and Baldwin Road residences who received the letters were just informing the police of the situation, and never sent any money.

"It's another scam that's out there," he said. "We're glad people bring it to our attention."

Danvers Police offered Consuming Fraud Reporting tips to concerned residents on their Facebook page.