The California lottery says “You can’t win if you don’t play.” The Sheriff’s Department warns residents that the same holds true for scams; if you haven’t bought a ticket to a lottery, you haven’t won a prize. Managing editor Tami Roleff says a Joshua Tree woman was recently scammed out of thousands of dollars by a con artist who said she’d won the lottery…
A Joshua Tree woman recently fell victim to a lottery scam and is now out $14,000. The woman received a phone call on January 29 from a man who said he was an attorney from the IRS and that the woman had won an international lottery. The con artist said that, in order to receive her winnings, she had to pay the taxes on it first. The woman made four cash payments of $1,500; $5,000; $2,000; and $6,000. The woman put the money inside a book which was then placed inside a package and sent to Hong Kong. The Sheriff’s Department reminds residents that if you have to pay money upfront to claim a prize, it’s a scam. Legitimate lotteries do not require you to pay to collect your prize. To file a complaint, or get free information, call 877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, contact the Sheriff Department.
