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FIREWORKS SAFETY POWERPOINT

To report neighborhood traffic problems
or to request additional enforcement,
click here or call 314-822-5868.

SPECIAL ALERT BULLETIN:

BEWARE OF LOTTERY SCAMS

"Congratulations! You've been selected to win $150,000 in the Canadian Lottery. All you need to do is wire $1,500 to insure your winnings ..."

Does this sound like a phone call or piece of mail you've received recently? If so, you are not alone. It is a sad fact in this world that there are people who prey on others, particularly older adults, to make their living. This information is intended to give you a "heads up" on how to deal with these scam artists.

It is uncommon to be told you've won a lottery or sweepstakes that you know you didn't enter. Unfortunately, there are also sweepstakes that are completely bogus. That being said, older adults are encouraged to always contact a family member or someone you trust before entering any lottery or sweepstakes to ascertain its authenticity. Be wary of anyone telling you that you've won anything, particularly large sums of money or a car. Be especially wary if that person tells you that you need to wire money or send money to them in order to claim your prize. Scam artists may call this need for money by different terms, such as "insurance for the prize," "luxury tax," etc. All they are doing is spending a couple minutes on the phone with you, trying to bait you, and when they do, they'll ask for the money. Surprisingly enough, we have heard victims of this type of scam tell us later that it sounded too good to be true. If it seems too good to be, it most certainly is.

Here's what you can do if you think
you've been solicited as part of a lottery scam:

If you are contacted by anyone claiming you've won a large prize, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MONEY OR PERSONAL INFORMATION.

First, contact the Kirkwood Police Department immediately by calling 314-822-5858.

After contacting Kirkwood Police, you should also contact the Missouri Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 and the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or www.ftc.gov.

Help us help you by putting these criminals out of business!