Victim Location 32233
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes
The caller said that I had been selected by raffle because I had signed up for something for Discovery Center located in St. Augustine, Fl. They said that I could win 1 of 3 prizes: 1) a tv 2) a vacation for 2 and 3) a Ford Explorer or $25,000 if I did not want the truck. They asked me to verify 3 questions by answering yes or no: 1) are you over 25 years old? 2) are you in a relationship? 3) do you and your partner make atleast $4500/month combined income?. After answering these questions they said they would transfer the call to the head of discover Center and provide me with a prize code and their address over an email to my email address. They also told me I would come to the address with my partner and the prize code to verify I had been selected to receive the prize. Then the phone call was transferred. I asked the next guy (both callers sounded male) the address and he gave me an address (I can’t remember) that was different than the address on google maps. And I told him that he was giving me a different address than what was on google maps. He then asked me for the address and I hung up. I then looked up the website on google maps and there was a phone number 423-827-9763. So I called it and left a message informing the number that their phone number was being used in a scam. I received a call back from a gentleman who told me that it was a scam and has been receiving emails and calls for over a year about this.
Victim Location 32277
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes
Thick accent, indian male, called and asked multiple questions, normally something I would hang up on but I wanted to dig and catch him in the lie/scam so I could report it. The entire time I was on the phone I was on my laptop, so I could check everything he said and do a reverse number lookup, as well as document what he said.
This is the conversation, to the best of my knowledge, and as I wrote down key points. Being aware of them trying to make you say key words and provide relevant information, I did lie to him as well as lay on my "country" accent to avoid say "yes" or "no". C=caller, M=myself.
C: "Hello…Hello…Can you-…Hello, can you hear me?"
M: "Yup, sure can bud, whatcha got?"
C: "I’m calling to verify that you entered a coupon in a sweepstakes at the mall."
M: "Yuhh, went to the mall once or twice."
C: "So you have entered the sweepstakes?"
M:"…."
C: "Am I speaking with (my name, first and last)"
M: "What company do you work for?"
C: "Discovery center, I’m sure you have many question, but we do not need any credit info or to sign up. You simply come to the office and claim your prize."
M: "Where’s your office located, and what prizes are we talkin’ bout?"
C: "St.Augustine, and I’m so glad you asked. You have won a"(minus all the fine details) three day vacation through Hilton, 2017 Ford Explorer, and some other small prize.
M: "Great sounds good, where do I pick up my car?"
C: "First I must have you answer three verbal confirmations to make sure you are eligible, ok?"
M: "Hit me.’
**He proceeded to ask the three questions, and I lightly mumbled "hmm" to each.
C: 1."Are you married?" 2."Are you and your spouse over the age of 25?" 3."Did you fill out coupons to be entered in a raffle?"
At this point I had enough and wanted to play him at his own game. He asked when I could come scratch off a ticket to have the opportunity to win one of the prizes. I said I was already on my way to their office because I was so excited. He stumbled over his words and said he needed to get my email and other information, I aggressively asked "But I thought I won if I answered your questions?". He began backtracking and stumbling and then I lied and said I was a security analyst contracted to Mayport(naval base), and I could tell he was rerouting his number through a foreign server. He hung up. I’ve called the number back 13 times, no answer for some reason lol.
Be careful out there everyone, don’t give these types of calls the time of day, block every number that tries to keep you on the phone. No clue why they need verbal confirmations, but I can only imagine it is geared towards selling your number to other scammers/spammers.