NORTH KINGSTOWN – Ocean State Job Lot today announced that scam artists apparently operating out of Winnipeg, Canada, have been using the company’s name in a fake giveaway scheme. “Our company’s name has been used illegally and without our knowledge in this financial scam,” the discount retailer said in a statement this afternoon.
“When this surfaced, Job Lot immediately reported the phony giveaway to the U.S. Postal Investigation Service, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. Canadian authorities are also investigating the international scam, and Job Lot is assisting them.”
Letters began appearing a week ago at the homes of targeted victims, the company said. Recipients are told they will receive a $40,000 grant from the “United States of America Grants Incorporated,” but first must arrange to pay a $25 service charge.
The letter appears to come from an “account manager” at a Winnipeg company, whose name is given as Boyer Financial Inc. It instructs recipients to cash the enclosed $3,850 check; contact the “grant advisor” by phone; and fax information back to the sender – or “payment of this check will be stopped and your Grant will be cancelled.”
But Job Lot says the giveaway is fake and the enclosed check – which appears to come from Ocean State Jobbers Inc., the parent company of Ocean State Job Lot – is both fraudulent and worthless.
“While the purpose of the scam is unclear, it may be an attempt to get personal information,” for use either in identity theft or looting the recipient’s bank account, the retailer said.
As of today, Job Lot has received reports of 33 such solicitations. Although “a significant number” were in Rhode Island, it said reports also came from Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Wisconsin and California. “The solicitations appear to have been sent out randomly, even to distant states where Job Lot has no stores or consumer identity,” the company said, noting: “Our customer information files were never compromised.”
Company officials are “outraged that residents of these states, and perhaps others, have been targeted as potential victims,” Job Lot said. “We are equally outraged that our company and our good corporate name have been used in this shameful attempt to swindle unsuspecting consumers.”
Anyone who receives such a letter is urged to immediately report it to local law enforcement agencies. In addition, Job Lot has set up a toll-free number for recipients of the phony giveaway letters, at 1-877-675-5687, ext 847.
The company said it will post updates on the phony giveaway scam and the investigation at www.OceanStateJoblLot.com.
