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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 1/12/2012
SUBJECT: Duluth Police Alert Citizens of Recent Scam/Fraud Cases
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Police Alert Citizens of Recent Scam/Fraud Cases
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE: 1/12/2012
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION: Duluth, MN

The Duluth Police Department would like to warn citizens about an on-going scam.  

Criminals are notifying victims that they have won a large sum of money from Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. The suspects notify the victim by mail that they have won the sweepstakes and ask that they call them. When the victim calls the suspect, they tell them that they need to pay the taxes on the winnings (usually amounting to around $15,000) before they can collect the prize. Victims are instructed to send the money to a fictitious person in Canada, using the United Parcel Service. Many of these cases are currently under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and law enforcement agencies around the country.
 
The recent cases that have been reported to the Duluth Police Department identify the suspects targeting the elderly. We ask that you speak to friends/relatives and notify them of this type of scam. 
 
If you have any information related to this type of a scam. Please contact the Duluth Police Department Property Crimes Unit at (218) 730-5160.