As the old saying goes, “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.” That is the case with an apparent series of calls several local residents received over the weekend telling them they were big winners.

Local law enforcement has been alerted of a phone scam, apparently coming from out-of-the-country, in which perpetrators of the scam are using Publishers Clearing House name and money cards that can be purchased at area Wal-Marts, as a means to try and rob people of money.

Clinton County Sheriff Rick Riddle said Saturday morning, August 17, that at least four persons had contacted him–including one in person–and others by phone of the scam, in which apparently some area residents have fallen victim.

The sheriff noted that the Albany Police Department had also taken a similar report from a residence about the same type call the previous evening.

Later on Saturday, the Clinton County News also talked to a resident who had received the same type call, who verified the Publishers Clearing House and Wal-Mart angle of the alleged phone scam.

Sheriff Riddle said that one resident reported the caller, who called from an 876 area code, which was an international number, had told them they had won a large prize of around $900,000 from Publishers Clearing House. However, the catch was the person was told they would need to go to a Wal-Mart store and purchase a money pack card, or “green” card in the amount of $1,000.00. Such a card sold by the chain store is something of a debit or credit card, which can be purchased and used as cash.

The sheriff said that once the back of the card is scratched off and the number of the card is revealed, whoever has the number can use the card. The perpetrators of the scam were attempting to get residents to give them the card information and then cashing in on the card themselves, leaving the victim with a $1,000 loss, plus the fees associated with purchasing the card.

Sheriff Riddle took down the number from one individual who came in to report the scam, noting the number that showed on the caller’s ID was 1-876-296-3725. He added, when he called the number back it came in as being disconnected or out-of-service. He further said the person who initiated that particular call had used the name James Chin.

When the number was called from one residential phone whose company did not allow outgoing calls outside the United States, the message “no international calls are allowed,” meaning the phone number in fact came from outside the country.

Clinton resident Jane Schwenke was one of the people who had received the scam call around mid-morning on Saturday. Her call came to her cell phone.

Schwenke gave some details of the call, noting the person who initiated the call could barely speak English, and the accent sounded similar to a middle eastern dialect.

She said the caller began his apparent phony sales pitch by identifying himself as being from Publishers Clearing House and telling her she had won not only $999,000 in cash, but also a new Mercedes Benz. The caller further told her they were in the area and could deliver her windfall within about 40 minutes.

Schwenke continued that the caller asked for some personal information–which she did not give–such as her address, bank checking account number and so forth. Then, he informed her the only thing she had to do to claim the prize was to go to Wal-Mart and purchase a card. She said she could hardly make out what he was saying but thought he meant a Pay Pal card for about $2,200.00.

She said that when she indicated she didn’t think the call was real, the person–who identified himself to her as David Miller–insisted she hurry and call his manager to verify the information.

“I called the number back he had given me and I’m pretty sure I was talking to the same guy,” Schwenke said, adding she still couldn’t hardly understand what he was saying. She told him she wasn’t going to give him any money at all.

When she told him this, apparently the caller became a bit agitated and told her “she was confused” and asked to talk to her husband instead.

“That (talking to her husband John) wasn’t a good idea,” Jane Schwenke said. “He (John) took the phone and told the caller to “knock it off” and hung up.

Following the alleged scam attempt, Jane Schwenke notified the sheriff’s office and also attempted to contact the Better Business Bureau. However, that agency is closed on weekends but she said she intended to report the incident to the BBB as well this past Monday.

Schwenke said the two numbers involved in her conversations with the scam artists, the one initiated and the one she apparently called back, were also 876 area code, international numbers, one being 373-5287 and the other 373-5219.

Sheriff Riddle noted that actually tracking down scam artists like this was difficult, especially when they come from individuals outside the U.S. and warned that the best thing people can do when they receive such calls is be vigilant and never give money to anyone they don’t know and never give out personal information of any kind in these type situations.

However, anyone who receives such suspect calls should get as much information from the callers as possible, including phone numbers and names they may give, and report that information to law enforcement.

Citizens should also be reminded that any ‘legitimate’ sweepstakes, organization or gaming industry of any type in which a “real” prize is won, never asks for money in advance in order to award the prize.