DaimlerChrysler battles mail scam

Crain's Detroit Business / November 27, 2006 - 2:18 pm DaimlerChrysler's financial services unit is working to alert consumers to a mail scam that bears the company's name.

Households across the country have been receiving letters from the so-called Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission in Canada which claim the recipients have won $170,000 in a lottery. Fake checks for $2,260 are included with the letters and name "DaimlerChrysler Services" and "DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance" as the issuer.

The scam requires recipients to call a phony representative of the lottery commission and wire $2,260 in funds to "finalize the payment process," according to documents received by Farmington Hills, Mich.-based DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas. The deposit is supposed to be covered by the check sent in the letter.

As expected, the money is withdrawn from the victim's account, the fake check bearing DaimlerChrysler's name never clears and the $170,000 never arrives.

DaimlerChrysler has posted fraud alerts on its corporate Web sites at www.daimlerchryslerfinancialservices.com/na and www.dctruckfinancial.com.

The company also is encouraging victims to file a consumer fraud complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling 877-FTC-HELP or by visiting www.ftc.gov.