NATCHEZ — Local resident Delores Anderson wants to warn others about a scam she received in the mail to which she almost fell victim.

A scam company that calls itself “Novation Capital Investment, LLC,” mailed a legitimate-looking check for $4,910 to her Natchez house. Included with the check was a letter with a claim number that told Anderson she had won a sweepstakes.

“We are pleased to bring this official notice which confirm that you are a second prize winner in the second category of the USA Departmental Stores Sweepstake Lottery held on June 30, 2010.”

The letter claimed the company had offices in England, Canada and in New York City.

Anderson said she participates in sweepstakes occasionally and has fallen victim to a scam in the past, so she checked the company out.

She called the company and said they sounded foreign and tried to appeal to her by talking about Christianity.

The local district attorney’s office instructed Anderson to contact the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Response Center, and the federal employee confirmed for Anderson the check was a scam.

The trade commission employee told Anderson the scammer would have been able to gain access to her bank account and retrieve the nearly $5,000 from her account after it was deposited. The check would have bounced at that point, and Anderson would have had to pay back her bank.

Anderson said the trade commission’s consumer response center was very knowledgeable and helpful. The center can be reached at 1-877-382-4357.