Bill Gates Sweepstakes offer not quite what it seemed
No one has to pay money to win a real sweepstakes contest
By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Published: Friday, November 13, 2009
Updated: Monday, October 19, 2009 10:16 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, October 19, 2009 10:16 AM CDT
“Bill Gates” recently called a Desloge couple to announce the news that they had just won at least a million from Microsoft.
The amount kept changing, as did the money the couple was supposed to pay so they could be sent the winnings.
“We told him nobody has to pay money to get their prize,” the husband said. “They come to your house like Publisher’s Clearinghouse. But he keeps calling.”
First the scammer wanted nearly $200 in “fees” before he would send the check for the winnings. When the couple refused, he negotiated the price down to $160.
They still refused.
“He won’t give up,” the husband complained.
Three possible responses quickly came to mind.
• Have a little fun with the scammer and string him along.
• Tell him the couple has contacted the Attorney General and the phone is tapped.
• Keep a whistle by the phone and blow it — loudly — if the scammer keeps calling.
There are many ways to handle a scammer who calls on the phone. Register on the No Call list and report any calls that violate the No Call rules. (To register online and read the rules about No Call, go to https://www.nocall.ago.mo.gov.)
Another way to avoid dealing with phone scammers is to monitor calls with an answering machine. Whatever your decision, do not send any money to anyone promising you a cash prize if you do. It’s a scam.
A similar “Microsoft” scam is making the rounds on e-mail. Legitimate contests, however, will take any taxes or fees off the top as opposed to asking you to front them money. When in doubt, investigate by calling law enforcement, the Daily Journal or Internet sites such as http://www.snopes.com.
The Daily Journal has made a commitment to keep readers abreast of scams that hit our area. If someone tries to make you the victim of a scam, call us at 431-2010 and tell us what happened. We will include your story in our scam alert series to prepare others who may find themselves in the same situation. The Daily Journal will run Scam Alert stories in the paper every Monday.
The amount kept changing, as did the money the couple was supposed to pay so they could be sent the winnings.
“We told him nobody has to pay money to get their prize,” the husband said. “They come to your house like Publisher’s Clearinghouse. But he keeps calling.”
First the scammer wanted nearly $200 in “fees” before he would send the check for the winnings. When the couple refused, he negotiated the price down to $160.
They still refused.
“He won’t give up,” the husband complained.
Three possible responses quickly came to mind.
• Have a little fun with the scammer and string him along.
• Tell him the couple has contacted the Attorney General and the phone is tapped.
• Keep a whistle by the phone and blow it — loudly — if the scammer keeps calling.
There are many ways to handle a scammer who calls on the phone. Register on the No Call list and report any calls that violate the No Call rules. (To register online and read the rules about No Call, go to https://www.nocall.ago.mo.gov.)
Another way to avoid dealing with phone scammers is to monitor calls with an answering machine. Whatever your decision, do not send any money to anyone promising you a cash prize if you do. It’s a scam.
A similar “Microsoft” scam is making the rounds on e-mail. Legitimate contests, however, will take any taxes or fees off the top as opposed to asking you to front them money. When in doubt, investigate by calling law enforcement, the Daily Journal or Internet sites such as http://www.snopes.com.
The Daily Journal has made a commitment to keep readers abreast of scams that hit our area. If someone tries to make you the victim of a scam, call us at 431-2010 and tell us what happened. We will include your story in our scam alert series to prepare others who may find themselves in the same situation. The Daily Journal will run Scam Alert stories in the paper every Monday.
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