CLAYTON – An elderly Clayton-area man is out a large sum of money after falling for a sweepstakes scam.
The 82 year-old victim said he received a phone call from a person claiming to be with Global International Sweepstakes. They claimed he had won $9 million and needed to send money to pay for fees associated with claiming his prize money.
The victim began sending money to the scammer not knowing it was a scam. Over a period of several months, the elderly man sent in payments for various charges that eventually totaled $15,582.50. The scammer continued to ask for more money to cover fees or to arrange delivery of the prize, the victim said. Eventually, the victim realized he had been scammed and alerted Johnston County authorities.
Officials remind residents that you must purchase a ticket or enter a sweepstakes to win. If you did not enter, ignore any correspondence claiming you won. Do not send money to claim you prize, including bogus fees to pay for taxes, shipping, insurance, or processing costs.
Never give out any personal information, including your bank account information or social security number. If you feel pressured or don’t have a good feeling about the caller, simply hang up the phone.
