A letter promising recipients $8.75 million if they provide personal information has been circulating in the Tri-Cities and is a scam, according to the Coquitlam RCMP.
Cpl. Jamie Chung said dozens of residents in the area have received the letter, which is personally addressed and refers to the estate of an individual who shares the recipients last name.
The person receiving the letter is told that if they email their personal information to a man named Porter Lee, a private investment manager, they will be able to access their millions. Concerned residents have brought the letters to the RCMP detachment, Chung added.
"A few years ago we probably would have heard about the Mr. Lee when someone called to report that they had already lost their life savings," he said. "It's great that people are getting savvier about frauds and scams and reporting these kinds of suspicious incidents to police."
Chung said that mail and email-based frauds are extremely difficult to investigate and prosecute so prevention is important. Residents are urged to educate themselves about the types of scams that are common and use common sense when dealing with strangers promising money or other benefits that seem to good to be true.
"I have responded to email address on the letter just to see where it goes," Chung said. "I'll post updates on our website, so stay tuned to find out what happens between me and Porter Lee."
For more information about scams go to the RCMP website. A person who suspects they have been targeted for fraud of have already sent funds should report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
