INDIANA – Fifth Third Bank customers in Indiana are urged to be vigilant against a new scam involving fraudulent letters and checks falsely claiming to be from Reader’s Digest. The Indiana State Police are advising that these letters inform recipients they are “Sweepstake Draw Winners” and are an attempt to gain unauthorized access to banking accounts.
Fifth Third Bank has confirmed they are NOT partnered with Reader’s Digest, nor are they involved in any such sweepstakes.
Here’s what Hoosiers need to know:
- The Scam: You may receive a letter, accompanied by a check, stating you’ve won a sweepstakes from Reader’s Digest. The letter will likely instruct you to deposit the check and then send a portion of the money back, supposedly for taxes or processing fees.
- The Reality: The check is counterfeit. If you deposit it, the check will eventually bounce, and you will be responsible for the funds you withdrew or sent, which may result in bank fees. More dangerously, by attempting to “verify” your win or send money back, you could unknowingly provide scammers with your banking information, leading to theft from your account.
- Key Indicator: Remember, legitimate sweepstakes or lotteries will never ask you to pay a fee or send money to claim your winnings.
If you receive such a letter or check, do NOT deposit the check or provide any personal banking information. Instead, report it to your local law enforcement agency and contact Fifth Third Bank directly through their official customer service channels.
Stay safe and be suspicious of any unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true.
