TriStar Financial Group, Inc.

On April 12 2006 this company's principal Asi Ifrah advised the Better Business Bureau that his company TriStar Financial Group Inc. has been victimized by an internet lottery scam perpetrator. Mr. Ifah explains that another business entity has been using his business name "Tri-Star " and his business address to attempt to defraud unsuspecting citizens in both North and South America by making them believe they have won a foreign lottery. The perpetrator sends a letter of congratulations along with a check made out to the individual in the amount of $2 850 which is said to be the amount of the processing fee on the $75 000 winning ticket. Recipients are instructed to deposit the check and then contact an assigned claims agent who instructs the recipient to provide bank account information to expedite the claims process Victims are asked to wire transfer processing fees to a foreign account in order to finalize the claim. The amount of the original processing fee check is said to be deducted from the total amount of $75 000 therefore causing no financial hardship for the winner to send in the processing fee.~~We urge caution! TriStar Financial Group does not engage in any foreign or domestic lottery activities. TriStar Financial offers insurance investments and loan services. Our experience with similar offers of this nature is that instead of sending the remaining winnings the company will use your account information to drain your account of any available funds. When the victims get suspicious they call information on their faxed documents or they cross reference the address on the lottery check which leads the victim to TriStar Financial Group. The company appears to have taken proper steps to report the fraudulent activities to appropriate law enforcement entities. Consumers who receive these communications should contact the FBI Postal Inspector or other local law enforcement agency.