THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, BELFANTI, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, D. COSTA, DENLINGER, FRANKEL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KULA, LONGIETTI, MELIO, MILLARD, MURT, PAYNE, SEIP, SIPTROTH, VULAKOVICH AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 17, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, AUGUST 17, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Congress of the United States to take legislative

action against the practice of international lottery scams

and similar deceptive practices, and to work with the

governments of those countries where these fraudulent

activities originate.

WHEREAS, International lottery scams operate by contacting an

unsuspecting victim with the promise of exuberant sums of money

as a result of winning a lottery; and

WHEREAS, Similar scams involve victims being solicited to

claim funds from a business or banking account so that the host

country's government does not claim those funds; and

WHEREAS, The victim is often coerced into sending sums of

money to the fraudulent entity to cover processing fees, taxes

and other similar requirements to claim the lottery winnings or

account funds; and

WHEREAS, The victim being solicited is often asked to provide

bank account numbers and other personal information, often

leading to identity theft; and

WHEREAS, After sending money and supplying personal

information, victims are sent checks that bounce, counterfeit

money or nothing at all; and

WHEREAS, These victims often lose thousands of dollars and

are too embarrassed to file a report or a claim with a law

enforcement agency; and

WHEREAS, International lottery scams create countless victims

of fraud and identity theft every year and have increased

dramatically through the use of e-mail; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United

States to take further action against the practice of

international lottery scams and similar deceptive practices; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That Congress act to warn the public of these

deceptive acts so that increased awareness may lead to decreased

victimization; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Congress actively work with the governments of

countries that play host to the perpetrators of this type of

fraud, in order to prevent the practice from occurring; and be

it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the President of the United States and to presiding officers of

each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from

Pennsylvania.