HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH HILO PATROL
OFFICER JASON N. GROUNS
PHONE: 961-2213
JULY 3,2007

Big Island police are warning the public about a mail scam aimed at persuading Hawaii County residents to give away money.

There has been at least one report of a Hilo resident receiving a letter along with an enclosed check claiming that the recipient has won a $900,000.00 payout as a result of a lottery draw held in October 2006. The letterhead has a Circuit City address out of Coppell, Texas although the postmark is from South Africa. They are asking that the recipient cash the enclosed $4,500.00 check and return $3000.00 to pay a Non-Resident Government Service Tax.

Police are warning that this is a bogus check and that anyone who receives a similar suspicious solicitation call their local Police Department or the Police non-emergency number 808-935-3311.

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