The Clorox Company has issued a warning about a lottery scam targeting consumers throughout the United States. According to the Mountain States Better Business, this is one more example of fraudulent foreign lottery scams that continue to besiege the nation.

Victims of the Clorox Company scam report receiving a letter from the International Clearing Commission House in Ottawa, Ontario, that claims they have won a large cash prize in the American Lottery Sweepstakes. The letter is accompanied by a fraudulent check in the name of The Clorox Company to cover lottery fees that the consumer is instructed to pay by mailing the organization a personal check in order to obtain their winnings. Victims are advised that they will receive their winnings by certified cashier check within 24 hours after the fees are paid.

Clorox has no connection to the International Clearing Commission House or American Lottery Sweepstakes, and is no way involved with any promotion resembling this scam. The company has notified the FBI in an effort to identify the perpetrators as quickly as possible. Clorox also has alerted the Council of Better Business Bureaus, as well as the American Association of Retired Persons, since these types of scams often prey on the elderly.

The BBB notes that on the recent FTC press release of fraud statistics for 2006, Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries were the number 4 scam targeting consumers nationwide.

Individuals who receive the fraudulent notice or have information about the scam should contact the Colorado FBI office at 303-629-7171,

For additional information about how to spot foreign lottery and sweepstakes scams, contact the Mountain States BBB at www.mountainstates.bbb.org, or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371. It’s just good business!

About the Better Business Bureau

The Mountain States Better Business Bureau is dedicated to fostering fair and honest relationships between businesses and consumers, instilling consumer confidence and contributing to an ethical business environment, in both the traditional and online marketplaces. The first BBB was founded in 1912, and the network of BBBs and the Council of Better Business Bureaus have grown to become the most recognized advocates for promoting ethical business and advertising practices in the United States.

In 2006, the Mountain States BBB provided nearly 572,000 instances of service to consumers and businesses. The BBBs Internet self-regulation program, BBBOnLine, helps consumers identify online merchants that meet BBB standards through its Reliability and Privacy "trustmark" programs and the BBB Code of Online Business Practices.