SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney in San Mateo County, California.

August 18, 2020

YOU HAVE WON! (NOW PAY US) – SCAM

Who would not like to win a million dollars, a new car, or a vacation home? But if you receive a call from someone saying, “You’ve won,” do not believe it.

Here is how it works. You receive a call from someone who says they are from Publishers Clearing House or some other well-known organization. They say, “Congratulations, you have won a million dollars, a Mercedes-Benz, and seven thousand dollars a week for life!” or some other amazing sounding prizes. Then they ask you to pay upfront a “processing fee,” “taxes,” or “shipping and handling charges,” to claim your prize.

The scammers are trying to push you into a heightened emotional expectation state, to knock you off balance just long enough to steal your money and personal information. The fact is, Publishers Clearing House never notifies winners in advance. And anyone who says, “You’ve won. Now pay us,” is a scammer. Period.

Consider these tips to avoid this scam:

*Legitimate sweepstakes do not make you pay a fee to receive your prize. That includes paying “taxes,” “shipping and handling charges,” or “processing fees.” Also, do not give someone your checking account or credit card number in response to a sweepstakes promotion.

*Do not send money transfers or gift cards or give personal information. Sending money transfers or gift cards (or providing the gift card numbers) is like sending cash. Once the money’s gone, you cannot trace it or get it back. The same goes for sending money by mail or using a money order.

*Do not trust your caller ID. Scammers can make any name or number show up on your caller ID. They might use an official-sounding name like Publishers Clearing House or Reader’s Digest.

Scammers do not scam just one person. Tell your friends and family about the scam so they can avoid it. Then report it to the FTC: ftc.gov/complaint.

ATTRIBUTION: US Federal Trade Commission