Victim Location 35094
Type of a scam Sweepstakes/Lottery/Prizes
I received a phone call from a Restricted number. Due to recent new business contacts I have made, I answered. The guy on the other end – "Brandon Lewis" said I had won $2.5M in the Publishers Clearinghouse sweepstakes. He gave me his call back number at 516-472-4429. He seemed very savvy and tried to calm my skepticism by assuring me this was no scam and that I would be a winner. He also went into details of how I would be provided a CPA to help with taxes and how PCH had covered 9.9% of taxes for me. He also asked if I wanted the check delivered publically with video cameras and balloons, or privately. To win though, I had to make a Wal Mart-to Wal Mart transfer for $555 and present that confirmation at the time they pulled up in a brown van with PCH on the side. I provided a secured work address (not my home address) – thankfully – early on in the conversation as it seemed legitimate in the beginning. Before I committed anything, after a lengthy discussion, I asked for everything in writing before making a transfer. As soon as those words left my mouth, the guy hung up immediately. It is worth noting that 30 minutes prior to this call, I had unsubscribed from a trial magazine subscription started at Books A Million 3 months ago. Interesting timing for a scam from "Publisher’s Clearinghouse."