Everyone should read the "How to avoid becoming a victim" add the end of the article. It will save you some grief..... 
Prize patrolnever shows
By DAVE STEPHENS Tribune Staff Writer
Publication: South Bend Tribune (Indiana)
Date: Friday, July 9 2010
SOUTH BEND - Richard Seach waited Thursday for the prize patrol to arrive at his front door.
Not surprisingly, it didn't show.
Seach, who was called Wednesday by a man claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, said he and his son waited patiently for a knock that never came.
Seach was sure the caller was a scam, but said he waited Thursday hoping to confront whoever was trying to scam him.
But instead of a knock on the door, he got a phone call. Seach said the caller told him the check couldn't be dropped off, but that he was supposed to call another number to talk with a lawyer who would set up the transaction.
This, said Seach, is definitely a scam.
According to numerous callers who read Seach's story in Thursday's Tribune, he's right.
One caller said her mother-in law fell victim to the scam, waiting at home two separate times for her prize to arrive. Eventually she leaked personal information and found that her bank account had been emptied. A Mishawaka man had a similar story, only that he hung up on the caller after several questions were asked about his checking account.
Barbara Brownell, who serves as the crime victims advocate for REAL Services, said the name Publishers Clearing House is frequently used as bait by con artists.
"It's one of the top ones that you hear about," Brownell said.
Brownell said people, most often seniors, will get a phone call like Seach did, with someone claiming that a prize is arriving the next day.
Don't believe it, she said.
"They don't call in advance, they don't tell you to wait," Brownell said. "If you won, they'll stay in town up to a month just to track you down."
Brownell said many people are confused by the scam because they may have sent a form into the legitimate Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, so the call gets them excited. She urged people to approach any such winning claim with much skepticism.
"With anything that you win, you don't have to pay to get your prize," Brownell said. Any contest that requires the winner to pay for shipping, taxes or a handling fee is likely to be a scam.
"That should be a red flag," Brownell said.
Brownell said people should not hesitate to hang up on anyone they think is a scam artist. The longer someone talks on the phone, the more likely they are to give out valuable information.
Seach, who has no doubt that he is now dealing with a scam artist, said he has no intention of playing along with the people who have called him, each time from a phone number with a different area code.
He said he was mildly disappointed to learn that he wasn't going to get the $496,000 promised him, but he says he's glad he wasn't a victim either.
When the phone call came with the news that the check was delayed, Seach said he didn't bother to even ask the caller why.
Seach said he just stood and listened to the lies, quietly wondering if it would have been better for them to show up at his door, just so he could have caught the scam artist in the act.
Staff writer Dave Stephens: [email protected] (574) 235-6209
How to avoid becoming a victim
As a senior adult advocate for REAL Services, Barbara Brownell has seen dozens and dozens of scam attempts on the area's senior citizens.
Brownell said the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to remain highly skeptical of any offers that seem too good to be true.
Tips:
* Never send money or provide bank account information to anyone claiming you have won a prize.
* Ask to get it in writing. If someone seeks information over the phone, ask them to send documentation through the mail. If it is a legitimate organization, they should already have your address on file.
* You can't win a prize for a contest you never entered. If someone claims you won the lottery in Nigeria or a new car in Canada - but you never entered either contest - the claim is part of a scam.
* When it doubt, seek help. Brownell said people with concerns or questions can call her office at (574) 284-7134 if they fear they are being targeted in a scam.
:sunny:
Prize patrolnever shows
By DAVE STEPHENS Tribune Staff Writer
Publication: South Bend Tribune (Indiana)
Date: Friday, July 9 2010
SOUTH BEND - Richard Seach waited Thursday for the prize patrol to arrive at his front door.
Not surprisingly, it didn't show.
Seach, who was called Wednesday by a man claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, said he and his son waited patiently for a knock that never came.
Seach was sure the caller was a scam, but said he waited Thursday hoping to confront whoever was trying to scam him.
But instead of a knock on the door, he got a phone call. Seach said the caller told him the check couldn't be dropped off, but that he was supposed to call another number to talk with a lawyer who would set up the transaction.
This, said Seach, is definitely a scam.
According to numerous callers who read Seach's story in Thursday's Tribune, he's right.
One caller said her mother-in law fell victim to the scam, waiting at home two separate times for her prize to arrive. Eventually she leaked personal information and found that her bank account had been emptied. A Mishawaka man had a similar story, only that he hung up on the caller after several questions were asked about his checking account.
Barbara Brownell, who serves as the crime victims advocate for REAL Services, said the name Publishers Clearing House is frequently used as bait by con artists.
"It's one of the top ones that you hear about," Brownell said.
Brownell said people, most often seniors, will get a phone call like Seach did, with someone claiming that a prize is arriving the next day.
Don't believe it, she said.
"They don't call in advance, they don't tell you to wait," Brownell said. "If you won, they'll stay in town up to a month just to track you down."
Brownell said many people are confused by the scam because they may have sent a form into the legitimate Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, so the call gets them excited. She urged people to approach any such winning claim with much skepticism.
"With anything that you win, you don't have to pay to get your prize," Brownell said. Any contest that requires the winner to pay for shipping, taxes or a handling fee is likely to be a scam.
"That should be a red flag," Brownell said.
Brownell said people should not hesitate to hang up on anyone they think is a scam artist. The longer someone talks on the phone, the more likely they are to give out valuable information.
Seach, who has no doubt that he is now dealing with a scam artist, said he has no intention of playing along with the people who have called him, each time from a phone number with a different area code.
He said he was mildly disappointed to learn that he wasn't going to get the $496,000 promised him, but he says he's glad he wasn't a victim either.
When the phone call came with the news that the check was delayed, Seach said he didn't bother to even ask the caller why.
Seach said he just stood and listened to the lies, quietly wondering if it would have been better for them to show up at his door, just so he could have caught the scam artist in the act.
Staff writer Dave Stephens: [email protected] (574) 235-6209
How to avoid becoming a victim
As a senior adult advocate for REAL Services, Barbara Brownell has seen dozens and dozens of scam attempts on the area's senior citizens.
Brownell said the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to remain highly skeptical of any offers that seem too good to be true.
Tips:
* Never send money or provide bank account information to anyone claiming you have won a prize.
* Ask to get it in writing. If someone seeks information over the phone, ask them to send documentation through the mail. If it is a legitimate organization, they should already have your address on file.
* You can't win a prize for a contest you never entered. If someone claims you won the lottery in Nigeria or a new car in Canada - but you never entered either contest - the claim is part of a scam.
* When it doubt, seek help. Brownell said people with concerns or questions can call her office at (574) 284-7134 if they fear they are being targeted in a scam.
:sunny: