FBI Warns Of Phone Scam
Wednesday, Aug 20, 2008 - 06:43 PM Updated: 07:25 PM
To watch video online please click here to download the latest version of the Flash plugin.
Email a Friend
Reader Reaction
RSS
digg it
Printer Friendly
Sphere IT
Save This Page
RALEIGH, N.C. – The FBI is warning people about a new twist on an old scam.
Agents tell NBC17 the scammers flood their victim with sweepstakes entries, then use information from them to garner personal information.
Using that information, they change the victims' phone numbers so only they can contact their targets.
The scammers then call, claiming to be from the FBI and tell the victims they've won money but have to pay handling fees.
That's when they threaten to jail the victims if they don't pay taxes on their supposed sweepstakes winnings.
Often, the scammers target elderly people.
One woman, who asked us to hide her identity, says her mother has fallen for this scam several times hoping to win a fortune.
"My mother will not listen,” said the woman. “She will listen to strangers before she will listen to the family. We have told her many times since the very beginning that it was a scam."
Reader Reaction:
Reaction Page:
