State warns of Readers Digest prize scam

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HARTFORD — State officials issued a warning Friday about a scam involving a fake letter from Gov. Dannel Malloy and the Reader’s Digest Sweepstakes prize.

The way the scam works is someone receives a letter claiming to be from Malloy and bearing a replica of his signature. The letter states that in return for a cash payment to cover state taxes, the recipient will receive the Reader’s Digest Sweepstakes prize of $5 million and a Mercedes Benz vehicle.

“This letter is not from any office within the State of Connecticut, particularly that of the Governor,” Department of Consumer Protection William Rubenstein said in a press release. “Rather, it’s a common example of a scam letter, replete with certain clues that easily give it away as such. We urge anyone receiving this communication to ignore it, and certainly do not send money as requested. Loud alarm bells should go off anytime you are told you won a contest that you did not enter, or that you are required to pay money before receiving a prize. Those are telltale signs of a scam.”

More information on the signs of a scam is available at SmartConsumer.ct.gov under “Scam Signals.”

“Residents should be wary of any solicitation involving personal information or the transfer of any monies either by credit card or wire transfer,” Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Dora Schriro in a press release. “We need to continue to be vigilant, as the perpetrators of these crimes know no boundaries.”