Feisty 81-year-old Sends Phone Scammers Packing

24 June, 2007 (15:20) | Scams

I just love stories like this one! This is probably the last thing these scumbag scammers expect when they call an 81-year-old woman.

The elderly Wisconsin woman received a phone call from someone informing her that she had won the Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes. At first she thought it sounded too good to be true and she soon discovered that it actually was.

The woman was given a toll-free number in Jamaica to get the details on her winnings and at that point she began to smell a rat. And I can see why! Why in the world would someone be instructed to call Jamaica if they had won the Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes? It just doesn’t make sense.

Deciding to have a little fun, the woman called the number in Jamaica to see what would happen. Predictably enough, she was instructed to immediately wire $899 to someone in Jamaica in order to collect her prize. Again, why would Publisher’s Clearing House be connected to Jamaica?

In order to provide herself with a little entertainment, she informed the person on the other end of the phone that she only had $8.50 in her checking account, much to the disappointment of the would-be scammer.

Officials in Wisconsin point to a state law that makes it unlawful for prize winners to be asked for money in order to receive a prize and I suspect other states have similar laws on the books.

The woman did exactly the right thing and kudos to her for having a little fun with the scammers while she was at it!

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