Daughter saves Massachusetts man from being victimized in sweepstakes scam

Comment #13

Stack47 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 04:30:57 GMT

part of her inheritance for all we know was almost out the door

We get lots of these stories and always wonder when these seniors live alone, are the kids acting in the interest of their parents or theirs.

Comment #12

noise-gate — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 01:23:14 GMT

All this drama can be avoided to a certain degree. If you know that your parent or parents are beginning to lose their mental faculties, you sit down with them long BEFORE this sort of thing hits the fan.

Put a chart on the wall, several walls explaining to them that if anyone wants to discuss money with them, they * the Parents need to reach out to you first. It's worth a try, do something instead of calling up the police to let them know you stopped a crime in the nick of time. Boy was she... [ More ]

Comment #11

PHIL85 — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 20:16:50 GMT

Most of the Publishers Clearing House scams originate in Jamaica. Any prize UNDER $10K is sent by mail. Any prize valued OVER $10K is delivered by the PCH Prize Patrol. There is never any advance notice they are coming, the winners are surprised in person and there is NEVER any fee to collect the winnings. Any taxes due you pay directly to the IRS when you file your yearly income taxes.

Comment #10

Stack47 — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 03:56:21 GMT

Good advice!

Most people that enter PCH probably don't know when and how they will be notified if they win and the scam artist are counting on that. Read about a COVID-19 scam where they say your credit/debit card was charged for a testing kit and ask for your card numbers to verify.

Comment #9

grwurston — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 22:48:44 GMT

Publishers Clearing House notifies their big winners either by mail or by having the PCH Prize Patrol show up at the winner's doorstep. PCH does not notify big winners by telephone, email, or bulk mail. Be very careful not to confuse a legitimate PCH win with a scam using the Publishers Clearing House name.

People also ask

Does PCH call you when you win?

PCH Doesn't Email or Call Its Big Winners

So if you receive a prize notification by any other method than certified mail or an in-p... [ More ]

Comment #8

grwurston — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 22:42:17 GMT

These scammers love to prey on the elderly. They try to act like their friend, and that they're looking out for them, and then they take advantage of their trust. Early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's makes it even easier for the scammers.

Another thing to watch for are the sweepstakes offers from charities. They ask for a small donation along with their entry to help, whomever. Once you send in one entry, you will be bombarded by them. A lot seem to come from the Topeka, Kansas area. The n... [ More ]

Comment #7

Stack47 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 22:38:13 GMT

Right now people are figuring out ways to use the current virus crisis to scam anyone they can.

As for the Publishers Clearing House scams, that company should do a better job of explaining a winner's tax burden. State lotteries do a great job in explaining 25% is ducted for Federal along with state taxes (if any). If somebody calls and says you won something, but have to pay taxes up front, it's probably a scam.

Comment #6

dpoly1 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 22:34:51 GMT

The scammers always target us older folks!

I tell them take a trip to Hades

Comment #5

Bleudog101 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 18:14:35 GMT

Somehow wish the banks were maybe forced to look out for their elderly customers. I say bilateral orchidectomy for the accused

Comment #4

Feisty1 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:53:54 GMT

Phil,

The people that are getting scammed aren't on LP to read this... or seasoned players to know this in the first place. One can only hope that the people here keep an eye on their elderly family members (even from a distance) to make sure that things like this won't happen to them

Comment #3

PHIL85 — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:39:45 GMT

A simple rule - you NEVER HAVE TO PAY ANY 'FEE' when you win the lottery or a sweepstakes prize. You will have to pay income taxes, and that would be when you file your taxes for the year. Never give out your financial information to anyone unless it is a transaction you initiated.

Comment #2

music* — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:22:45 GMT

Yes, this story has a happy ending. Thanks to the Daughter, Bank, and Police. This man had someone to confide in.

Comment #1

duckman — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 16:02:41 GMT

If you want to see how these scams work, including actual calls, check out the Kitboga channel on Twitch and Youtube. He takes the scammers to task and wastes their time and it is so enjoyable to see the scammers get so angry (some of the scammers invest many hours of their time and never get a cent).

Kitboga's Twitch channel has live streams and you never know what to expect Many of his past videos are hilarious and include the common IRS scams, Tech Support, and refund scams among others... [ More ]

Daughter saves Massachusetts man from being victimized in sweepstakes scam

Lottery Post — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 14:36:58 GMT

A dream of a lifetime seemed to have come true last week for an elderly Massachusetts man when he received a call from someone who claimed to represent Publisher's Clearing House.

The caller told the elderly Swampscott man he had just won $8.5 million plus a brand new Chevrolet in their national lottery. All he needed to do, the caller told him, was to pay the $45,000 taxes due on the money and the prize would be his.

It didn't occur to the man being scammed that the tax bill on $8.5 milli... [ More ]