Ocean County Warns Residents Of Bank Mailer Scam

OCEAN COUNTY, N.J. (CBS) -- Officials in Ocean County are warning residents about a scam they might find in their mailbox.

According to Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato, several residents have receievd a  fraudulent bank letter over the past week reporting a possible inheritance of $9.2 million from a deceased bank member.

The fake bank identifies itself as "TD Canada" using a logo similar to the one the real TD Canada Trust and US bank use.

The letter is signed Mr. Peter Andrew Timo who identifies himself in the letter as a bank manager with "TD Canada Trust Bank." He promises the money because the resident and the deceased bank member share a similar last name. Timo explains how to claim the money, instructing not to disclose the accounts to anyone until the money is received and gives an email address for residents to send their response.

"It also requires all confidentiality at this stage and I believe that you are ready to keep this absolutely discreet until you are able to claim the funds from the bank," the statement reads. "Once the funds are released to you, it will be shared between the two of us."

The return address on the envelope is for Costco Wholesale.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office is reminding residents of the adage: If it's too good to be true -- it's not true.

They're asking anyone who receives these documents to report them to the Federal Trade Commission website. Victims of the scheme should call the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor at 732-929-2027.