When Natchez resident Robert Mims checked his mail recently, he found something unusual — a check.

A letter congratulated him on winning a lottery worth thousands of dollars. But there was a catch. He had to send several hundred dollars to a company before he could collect his winnings.

The supposed lottery company was located in Canada, and the bank that would collect his check was in Florida.

Mims said he recognized it immediately as a scam.

“It says to deposit the check, don’t tell anybody about it and wait three days,” Mims said. “Of course, that’s the three days it takes for them to get the money and run.”

Mims said he wanted to warn other people about such scams.

“It’s really a slick-looking thing, something for people to look out for,” he said. “If you’ve got to send money to get money, it’s crooked.”

Local law enforcement officers said that’s the easiest way to recognize a scam, whether it’s sent by letter, e-mail or phone.

“Anytime someone asks you to send them money, it’s a scam,” Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said. “If it’s anything in the state, we usually tell (people) to contact the attorney general’s office.”

Maj. Jody Waldrop of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office has investigated some local scams, but most originate outside the country, he said. “What they’ll do is send you a check, saying you’ve won the lottery,” Waldrop said. “They’ll send you a check for $3,000 and tell you to deposit it and send them money.”

Once victims send money, they’ve lost hundreds of dollars, and their supposed earnings never appear in their bank account. And all too often, people wind up spending the money they think they have.

Because most of these scams originate outside the country, the FBI investigates those cases, Waldrop said. But because there are so many, it’s difficult to prosecute.

“If you become a victim of that type of scam, chances of getting any restitution are slim,” Waldrop said.

Sheriff Ronny Brown said he people who have received scam letters or sent money come into his office on a regular basis.

“It’s hard to tell someone to shred a check,” Brown said. “I’ll shred it for them sometimes, and they’ll just about cry.”

All in all, the best defense is a good offense, Brown said. Don’t send money thinking you’ll get money.

“My suggestion is, if it sounds too good to be true, it is,” Waldrop said. “We need to be aware of them. Anytime you get a check in the mail you didn’t do anything for, it’s cause to be suspicious.”