So I get a phone call from a man who tells me he is with Publisher's Clearing House. Right away, It sounds suspicious.
He goes on to tell me I am the winner of $5.5 million and a brand new Mercedes Benz, but in order for me to get my prize, I have to purchase a $300 money pack, reload card at a local drug store and then call him back. He says the $300 is to cover the cost of security to deliver my prize.
Obviously he isn't with Publisher's Clearing House, there is no prize, this is a scam.
On the Publisher's Clearing House web site, they make it clear they never call people over the phone.
Since this happened to me, others have told me they received similar calls. I traced the phone number back to Jamaica. Now there isn't a lot we can do about it, except warn everyone not to fall for this scam.
I'm James Smith.
Viewer Comments:
"I received a scam call similar to what you mentioned today, only mine was for a little over $2 million. All I had to do was pay $318.00 for shipping and handling. I told him to come on by and pick up the cash, but he couldn't do that. He had my house number, street and everything. I finally told him I wasn't born yesterday and hung up on him. Would you believe it, he called back. I had wondered if anyone else had received such a call locally."
"My neighbor is being scammed as we speak. This has been going on for about eight months. Not only has he gotten all of the money she can get ah old of, her new car was also stolen. So now I believe he has it or has sold it. He told her she won a new car and some cash but they got lost and he is trying to find them. Now he is putting money on a money card, having her got to an ATM and get it then send it to Jamaica. That sounds like money laundering to me."
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