11:01 AM PDT on Sunday, June 4, 2006

Associated Press

SALEM -- Residents of Wheeler County in Eastern Oregon are being warned to watch out for a fake mailing about a "Swiss Lotto" award.

Residents in Fossil and other Wheeler County communities have reported receiving the misleading promotions over the last few weeks.

According to Wheeler County D-A Tom Cutsforth, the mailing is an official-looking letter telling the recipient that they have won $88,000 as third place in the European International Lottery program.

The letter also includes an authentic-looking check from a New York-based company for $2,000, to pay for "taxes, and other fees."

Such scams usually end with victims calling the company and being convinced to wire several-thousand dollars to pay for so-called "gift taxes, clearance or cross-border fees."

Attorney General Hardy Myers says all Oregon residents should ignore any mail or telephone solicitations for foreign lottery promotions of any kind.