With promise of $1.5m prize, scam artist bilks woman out of nearly $28,000

Comment #22

dannyct — Mon, 21 May 2018 02:45:10 GMT

It is sad to see people scamed, especially elderly people. However, we shouldn't let greed cloud our judgement. If we win a prize or jackpot, we know that there be fees or taxes, before we collect the winnings. But we want to believe so much, we ignore our gut feeling.

Comment #21

music* — Thu, 17 May 2018 18:54:54 GMT

Thank You grwurston for including your story about your elderly Aunt. It helps in many ways.

As we age we understand what the previous generations had to live through. Now we have to fight the scammers.

Comment #20

Bleudog101 — Thu, 17 May 2018 15:54:20 GMT

Another fake PCH on FB just came; love to play along with these scammers.

Comment #19

grwurston — Wed, 16 May 2018 23:34:04 GMT

ng, Apology accepted. Every one of us is greedy. We're all trying to win something whether it is a $1 straight in the Pick 3 or the PB jackpot. The only person that is not greedy is the one that donates all of their winnings to a charity or some other worth while cause to help others.

As far as Vivian, I also had an aunt that lived into her 90's, that would ask the same question over and over within 10 minutes time. But let her open a photo album and she could tell you who almost every person... [ More ]

Comment #18

Stack47 — Wed, 16 May 2018 21:42:50 GMT

She entered nearly every drawing in the company's 50-year history, during which lucky winners have received more than $380 million.

It's almost as if she expected to win a grand prize from the PCH.

Not criticising the a dollar two dollars for a dream lottery players, but part of the scams are aimed at the people that expect to eventually win. The scam artist provide a fake win, get people hooked, and than nickel and dime them for taxes.

The key question is how can it be prevented, but... [ More ]

Comment #17

noise-gate — Wed, 16 May 2018 14:22:51 GMT

First off: G Rcb- l apologize if l conveyed the idea of not knowing a thing about ailments that affect the elderly. l do, on a personal level. My aunt had dementia for years and passed away at a ripe old age of 93. Using my aunt as a template, who had a hard time recalling things, l found Vivian's memory rather curious. She could recall specific conversations with the scammer, even going so far as to say how could l have been so dumb to believe it. Based on that and other little things; l pointe... [ More ]

Comment #16

Bleudog101 — Wed, 16 May 2018 12:57:03 GMT

Perhaps the best word to describe her actions is VULNERABLE.

Comment #15

rcbbuckeye — Wed, 16 May 2018 12:41:06 GMT

It would seem to me the real greedy ones are the scammers. She thought she hit the big one. That doesn't make her greedy. Isn't that why we all play the lottery? We play the lottery so that makes us greedy ?

Whatever.

My mother, before she passed, had brain cancer, and she was extremely smart and educated. But she is one who probably would have fallen for this scam after she became sick.

And no, she wasn't the greedy type.

Comment #14

dannyct — Wed, 16 May 2018 12:01:54 GMT

I only play lotteries by subscription, so if I get a phone call from a lottery, it can't be a scam.

Comment #13

grwurston — Wed, 16 May 2018 06:24:32 GMT

Yes, you can be sharp as a tack at 62-65 or even 75 and later on gradually lose your mental capabilities within a few years. It is called dementia and alzheimers disease. I hope you or anyone never have any family members with either of these. It is no picnic to live with. And a lot of these people end up in nursing homes, because the family cannot handle the 24 hour a day care needed to care for them.

Imagine if you will, someone taking your keys and not knowing where they put them. Meanwhi... [ More ]

Comment #12

noise-gate — Wed, 16 May 2018 03:27:55 GMT

l don't buy it Sir.Gullibility is no excuse G. It was G.R.E.E.D.- plain and simple.

Vivian was a nursing supervisor, l had to look up what that entailed: Nursing Supervisors are in charge of hiring and firing their staff of nurses, as well as scheduling and overseeing patients.That is quite a lot to carry- obviously Vivian had horned her skills, and knew a great deal of working with people.So, for argument sake, lets say that she retired at 62, are we to imagine that 20 odds years later she b... [ More ]

Comment #11

grwurston — Wed, 16 May 2018 02:54:56 GMT

The whole reason this happened is in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs. She had been playing for 50 years and imagined paying off the mortgages of her children and grandchildren with the winnings.

She didn't tell anyone about the calls because she wanted it to be a surprise. And she thought, What if I really did win. If I don't pay I won't get anything. Her desire to help her kids and grand kids was what did her in.

Younger people say, How can she be so stupid? But they don't realize the elderly... [ More ]

Comment #10

amber124 — Wed, 16 May 2018 00:58:48 GMT

I haven't laughed this hard for many years...OMG...LOL..

The last line made me explode

Comment #9

Bleudog101 — Tue, 15 May 2018 19:10:18 GMT

No doubt it was a spoofed call.

Don't get the IRS calls anymore; they were my favorite. One time I said it is IRS policy that their employees have perfect English with no accents. Another time I said it is against federal law for the IRS to call taxpayers, they only send out a letter. Sure had a laugh when it was on the news that a bunch of them in Mumbai, India were arrested...they worked for Delta Airlines Call Center. Easy access to names and phone numbers.

Comment #8

music* — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:16:30 GMT

Hilarious!! and funny too. I got a big laugh while reading it.

I assume your message to the scammers is, Partner, you better find a different line of work. This one does not suit you. John Wayne in The Shootist.

thank you

Comment #7

duckman — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:02:40 GMT

Was that a local scammer? Hopefully the scammer went to the airport and waited

Some of the scammers are targeting the elderly on purpose. Two scams also making the rounds here are the You didn't show up for Jury Duty and you need to pay your fine now or you will be arrested and This is the Sheriff's Office and we have a warrant for your arrest. If you pay now, you will not be arrested.

In some cases the scammers are spoofing the caller ID where it shows the police or a government age... [ More ]

Comment #6

Bleudog101 — Tue, 15 May 2018 17:47:33 GMT

So many elderly don't have anyone to help them, or like her, just gullible. I would hope that someday banks/credit unions would/could take a more active role in these cases. Problems I see they probably don't care enough and more importantly these calls go to home phones and the bank employee can't listen in.

Another scam within the past three weeks the guy wanted to know when I could get him the money. I said I'm waiting for you right now @ Standiford Field (Louisville airport) and hung up.... [ More ]

Comment #5

duckman — Tue, 15 May 2018 16:02:46 GMT

Really wish we would see more active prosecution of these scammers and tougher penalties when convicted, especially the ones in the U.S. Some senior citizens are losing their life savings.

Yes, the first line of defense is for the public to not fall for these scams.

The number of scam phone calls have gotten worse over the last year. When I have some time, I love to take the call and see how long I can keep them on the line and waste their time. The fake Microsoft calls are classics.... [ More ]

Comment #4

noise-gate — Tue, 15 May 2018 14:40:27 GMT

l am sorry, but Sanderson needs to own it. Her Mother is gullible, she fell for it continued to fall for it the moment she wrote her first check. When you in a hole,you STOP digging. I don't know which is worse, situations like this, or lottery winners who lose it all on bad financial decisions then say l wish l had never won.

Comment #3

CDanaT — Tue, 15 May 2018 14:36:32 GMT

Just sad that we have people STILL falling for these same style of scams year after year. How could I have been so dumb to have believed it .....Well Vivian, you are an educated person and only you know the real reason you fell for it.

Comment #2

music* — Tue, 15 May 2018 14:16:14 GMT

Thank You, Todd. We do not like to think that there are evil people out there. We have to remember the number of prisons there are in the U.S. and they are not filled with nice guys. Plus the many ex-cons who are on parole.

Don't forget the Nigerian Princes.

Most States want to put new millionaires in front of cameras knowing the risks involved.

Comment #1

Bleudog101 — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:40:20 GMT

Thanks for posting this article Todd...may have beaten you to the punch on this one.

Yesterday a message was received that I allegedly won $250K from/ on Face book. Her grammar was not always correct and said I'd receive an email. Wrote back that this is probably a scam which she did not like. I can't receive emails from FB because somehow my email address is backwards and that way it'll stay

With promise of $1.5m prize, scam artist bilks woman out of nearly $28,000

Lottery Post — Tue, 15 May 2018 12:12:37 GMT

Vivian Murphy thought back to that heart-stopping moment when the voice on the phone proclaimed her the winner of a $1.5 million sweepstakes prize.

For decades, Murphy, 85, had been a huge fan of Publishers Clearing House, the peddler of magazine subscriptions and household items widely known for TV commercials of winners dissolving into happy tears when presented with a gargantuan check. She entered nearly every drawing in the company's 50-year history, during which lucky winners have receiv... [ More ]