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The pigeon drop can cost you

Many frauds go unreported because victims are too embarrassed to admit that they were duped. When that happens, the con man is free to move on to his next victim.
There is no shame in becoming a crime victim. The unfortunate fact is that it can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. One of the most common scams is called the pigeon drop. Fall for it and it will cost you dearly.

In the pigeon drop, a couple of strangers tell you they've found or won a large sum of money, a lottery or some other item of value. Then they explain that they can't immediately access the fortune for some reason. They may claim that immediate access will subject them to massive taxes. Or they may claim to be illegal aliens forbidden from cashing a winning lottery ticket. All these are simply ruses to draw you into the scam.

Next, they'll tell you that if you put up some good faith money to secure the prize or winnings, the strangers will split the winnings with you. Don't fall for it! If you do, one thing's for sure: You'll never see the strangers or your money again.

Please report any fraud, scam, rip-off or suspicious activity to your local law enforcement agency. The information that you provide might be just enough to thwart a crime, catch a thief or prevent others from being victimized.

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Volusia County, Florida.