Upper Macungie police have issued a fraud alert for area residents.

According to Criminal Investigation Officer Adam Miller, a resident reported she entered a Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes contest online and shortly thereafter was told she had won $2.5 million.

The woman, who was mailed a check for several thousand dollars, which was later determined to be fraudulent, was advised to send back several thousand dollars to cover legal and other expenses.

The woman recognized the scam and suffered no loss.

Police remind residents to be cautious with these types of scams.

When someone is notified he or she is a winner of a contest, but then are instructed to send money to the organization, it is more than likely a scam.