Foreign lottery schemes continue to surface, keeping postal clerks and inspectors busy looking out for potential victims.

An observant postal clerk helped a man who had rival con-artists scheming him for cash, and it’s a story that could help you or someone you know from falling for a similar scheme.

“They are told they’ve won a prize, either a sweepstakes or a lottery prize, but there is a catch,” said Steve Bolz, U.S. Postal Inspector.

“They have to pay money in order to collect this prize,” said Bolz. “There will be some kind of explanation. It might be they have to pay taxes, they have to pay customs duties, processing fees, it’s all window dressing.”

The victim was ready to send $13,000 in cash to the con artists.

via Postal Worker Prevents Man from Losing Thousands to Lottery Scams