Scam alert!

A viewer called us this afternoon to pass along a scam alert.

The viewer tells us she recently got a phone call from someone claiming to be an officer with the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC overseas trade regulations, commerce issues and consumer protection laws. Click here to learn more). The viewer tells us that the call sounded legit and the caller claimed that she had won a contest. The caller, who claimed to be a federal agent, told her to call another FTC agent to claim the prize.

This is where you have to be careful.

When the woman called the second number, the person on the other end wanted her to send in $4500 dollars before her prize was sent to her. Luckily, the viewer recognized this red flag and didn't go any further!

Remember-- a federal agency, or any legit business for that matter, will never require that you send them money in return for a prize. This is just another version of something dubbed, the "Nigerian Scam." Don't fall for it!

And if you get a call, or letter or email that you think may be legit or may be a scam, just ask! The Lee County Sheriff's Office has a Fraud Hotline at 239-477-1242. But remember, if the deal sounds too good to be true and requires you to put up cash first-- it's a scam.