An alert citizen and an Ione police officer are attempting to pull the plug on a "foreign lottery" scam that hit the city earlier this month.

The way the scam works is a letter arrives in the mail notifying the recipient he or she has a "won" $450,000 in the fictional USA Mega Draw held in May. This is slightly different from USA Megamillions, also known as Megamillions Lottery, an combination of American lottery games. With the Mega Draw scheme that one Ione resident received, a check for $4,750 came with the letter intending "to help you pay taxes" on the winnings. This check was made to look as it it were issued by Comerica Bank.

The scam kicks in with the letter asking the recipient to deposit this check into their accounts while sending a personal check for the same amount to "Links Financial Services" in Sydney, Nova Scotia to cover taxes. It's only after depositing the Comerica check that the victim belatedly realizes it's no good.

According to Sgt. Rocky L. Harpham of the Ione Police Department, a sharp resident brought the letter to the attention of the department because he was concerned that someone thin the community would get "stung" by the scam.

"I wanted to warn the citizens of Amador County about the mail fraud scheme that was sent to an Ionian," Harpham said. "I have contacted Comerica Bank and they confirmed that the checks are false and they are already conducting an investigation."

"As it is an ongoing investigation, I can't really divulge any additional details," said Cassie Pitten, consumer resource center representative for Comerica Bank. "We are aware of the situation and it is a form of the foreign lottery scam that has been going around."

In the scam, explained Pitten, consumers usually receive a phone call or letter stating they have won a large sum of money in a foreign lottery that most have never entered. The scammer will then instruct the "winner" to deposit the check they have sent and wire or transfer the funds into the lottery fund office account. Once those funds are received, the "winner" will then be "awarded" the remaining prize money.

"Don't gamble with your money," said Pitten. "Ask yourself the following questions: How could I win the lottery or sweepstakes if I never bought a ticket or entered, and why do I need to send money to get my winnings?"

It is illegal for any foreign lottery, legitimate or not, to use the U.S. mail service to solicit customers, according to a Web site posting by U.S. Postal inspector Terry Finley, whose full time job is going after the scammers. The schemers trade mailing lists so it is likely to get hit more over and over.

"Once they have your name, you know you are toast," he said.

This year alone, the post office has gone to court and shut down 39 lottery schemes and has destroyed 800,000 phony offers.

The Federal Trade Commission said the scam offers are often based in Canada and are attempting to entice U.S. consumers into "high stakes" lotteries from as far away as Australia or Europe. These solicitations violate a U.S. law that prohibits cross border sales or purchase of lottery tickets. Besides taking funds for the purchase of the tickets, the scammers also use the victims' bank account numbers to make unauthorized withdrawals.

The FTC cautions consumers about responding to the letters or phone calls by reminding them that if they play foreign lotteries violates federal law. The FTC also suggests people ignore all mail and phone solicitations for foreign promotions. People who receive what looks to be lottery material should give it to their local postmaster.

"Make sure to keep your credit card and bank account numbers to yourself," Pitten said. "Scam artists will often ask for them in order to 'process' your award. Don't trust that they are giving what they say they are."