NEWTON, Kan. – The latest scam coming in around the area includes someone identifying themselves as being from the Publishers Clearing House. The caller states you have won a new truck and cash, but you have to send in $200.00.
One victim in Harvey County did send the $200.00 and then was called again to send in an additional $900.00. He sent in the $900.00 as told. The third call he got wanted another $900.00. By this time he realized he was being scammed.
It got even worse in McPherson County. Police there report that a woman after receiving a call from the scammers then received a call from what she thought was her bank. The person saying they were with her bank explained her account was compromised and they were making changes to the account to protect her from fraudulent use. The woman, thinking she was protecting her accounts, provided all requested information to the bank. Later, she called her bank and learned she hadn’t been speaking to her bank before.
Thankfully, there had not been any fraudulent activity on the account yet. However, shortly after her call, the bank received a request to enroll the woman in online banking. Thankfully again, the bank realized it was an odd request for this particular customer and especially, after no mention was made in the earlier call, stopped all of her accounts, and contacted McPherson Police Department before any financial loss occurred. Unfortunately, the scammer still has some of the woman’s personal information.
Authorities in Saline County reported a 76-year-old Salina woman lost nearly $9,000 after receiving a letter in the mail in March claiming she won $5 million and a Mercedes.
She called a phone number in the letter and was instructed to send money to pay fees and taxes.
Between March 21st and March 31st, the woman sent a total of $8,799 via Western Union and MoneyGram five different times to cover the fees.
Police were contacted after her daughter discovered what had happened.
The Saline County Sheriff reported a 38-year-old woman, who lives in northeast Saline County, loses nearly a thousand dollars after getting a call saying she had won $250,000, a Mercedes, and a $25,000 cash prize from Publisher’s Clearing House
To claim her prize all she had to do was pay fees and taxes.
Between April 5th and 7th, the woman sent $980 via Western Union, before she read a news account about another similar scam.
The Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Salina Police Department reminded residents who are contacted about winning a large cash prize not to send any money to cover fees and taxes.
Just a reminder, that you should never have to pay someone to receive a prize they claim you won. Be skeptical especially if you didn’t sign up for anything.
Watch out for your parents and grandparents and yourself for that matter. Don’t let them get to you or your family members, just hang up when they call.
This scam artist also made calls in McPherson County.