Elderly woman tells lottery scam artist to get a job and quit bothering her

Jan 22, 2013, 10:00 am (18 comments)

Scam Alert

Scam artists have been targeting a small community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and police are warning residents to be aware.

The phone scams are concerning, especially for older people, and also nearly impossible to prosecute. Most of the time the person on the other line, is not in this country.

In the past week, two people have gone to the Manor Township Police saying that someone tried to scam them over the phone. One person was told their son was in an accident and they needed to send money to help him.

The other person, an 80-year-old woman, was told she won $900,000 in a lottery and only had to send $300 to collect the prize money. She told the person on the other line to get a job and quit bothering her. A quick check revealed the call came from Jamaica.

"If it sounds too good to be true, a lot of times it is," explained Sergeant Carolyn Gundel of Manor Township Police. "There's no way for us to catch who's doing it."

To avoid being a victim, Sgt. Gundel recommends several precautions. Never give any personal information over the phone like your social security or credit card numbers; never wire money, because once it's gone it's gone; and ask questions, if it is a scam you will know quickly.

"They are frightening, these older people in their own homes and they're not even possibly in this country," Gundel said. "But these people are now fearful that somebody knows where they live and if they don't pay the money they are going to come after them."

Sgt. Gundel went on to say a while back one person in Manor Township fell for one of these scams to the tune of $5000.

CBS

Comments

sully16's avatarsully16

Many people need to quit being scam artists and get jobs. Good for her.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Jan 22, 2013

Many people need to quit being scam artists and get jobs. Good for her.

Scam artists are usually self-employed, running scams are their jobs.

fwlawrence's avatarfwlawrence

Next time, tell them not to bother you with such a small amount of money. You need to keep the phone line open so you can hear from a Nigerian prince who will send you millions!

RedStang's avatarRedStang

She should of notified the "Amish Mafia". They'll straighten them out.

Abdi's avatarAbdi

"If it sounds too good to be true, a lot of times it is," explained Sergeant Carolyn Gundel of Manor Township Police. "There's no way for us to catch who's doing it."

This sentence that I quoted from the news article above,shows that sometimes it's possible for criminals to get a way with crimes they committed,which shouldn't have been the case.

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by RJOh on Jan 22, 2013

Scam artists are usually self-employed, running scams are their jobs.

I Agree! Hiding from the law is a full time job.

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by Abdi on Jan 22, 2013

"If it sounds too good to be true, a lot of times it is," explained Sergeant Carolyn Gundel of Manor Township Police. "There's no way for us to catch who's doing it."

This sentence that I quoted from the news article above,shows that sometimes it's possible for criminals to get a way with crimes they committed,which shouldn't have been the case.

I Agree! But it IS the case when people wire money out of the country. There is no way to retrieve it.

Ronnie316

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Jan 22, 2013

Many people need to quit being scam artists and get jobs. Good for her.

If they only would......... The world would be a BETTER place.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by sully16 on Jan 22, 2013

Many people need to quit being scam artists and get jobs. Good for her.

I'm glad that this sheriff is giving honest advice that NOTHING can be done to protect their residents in this plague.  As always, it's buyer beware.  People of all ages, it's okay to answer your phone, but probably better to let ALL unrecognized phone #s go to one's answering machine. Later calling ONLY one's friends or vendor relationships back.

Or if became a scam artist, be able to go to a local location where they may request a quick, pain free suicide pill ... even if they are in that location illegally.  It's a strange country that will do the same for a lesser animal, but not a human animal.  Each country is overpopulated anyhow, why not let volunteers willing to 'remove themselves from the ole treadmill' come forward easily (each country's organized religions and governments shouldn't be afraid if it is 1/3 of their adult residents)?

Rant

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by HaveABall on Jan 22, 2013

I'm glad that this sheriff is giving honest advice that NOTHING can be done to protect their residents in this plague.  As always, it's buyer beware.  People of all ages, it's okay to answer your phone, but probably better to let ALL unrecognized phone #s go to one's answering machine. Later calling ONLY one's friends or vendor relationships back.

Or if became a scam artist, be able to go to a local location where they may request a quick, pain free suicide pill ... even if they are in that location illegally.  It's a strange country that will do the same for a lesser animal, but not a human animal.  Each country is overpopulated anyhow, why not let volunteers willing to 'remove themselves from the ole treadmill' come forward easily (each country's organized religions and governments shouldn't be afraid if it is 1/3 of their adult residents)?

Rant

"...request a quick, pain free suicide pill..."

We have Death Panels now to handle those little unpleasantries of life.

You don't even have to bother thinking about when it's your time to go.

Some government bureaucrats will decide that for you.

They know what's best for the police state us anyway.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

I am glad she was smart enough to know a scam when she saw (heard) one. I feel little sympathy for those who fall for scams. I was raised to know lunch is never free and money does not fall from the trees.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Jan 22, 2013

I am glad she was smart enough to know a scam when she saw (heard) one. I feel little sympathy for those who fall for scams. I was raised to know lunch is never free and money does not fall from the trees.

Not every scam offer a free lunch or a money tree, just a cheap lunch or a tree that will grow in value.  They are the hardest kinds of scams to spot and they're usually local.

mediabrat's avatarmediabrat

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Jan 22, 2013

"...request a quick, pain free suicide pill..."

We have Death Panels now to handle those little unpleasantries of life.

You don't even have to bother thinking about when it's your time to go.

Some government bureaucrats will decide that for you.

They know what's best for the police state us anyway.

"Death panels" have existed for many, many years.  It started when insurance companies began caring more about profit than people.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Jan 22, 2013

I Agree! But it IS the case when people wire money out of the country. There is no way to retrieve it.

Smiley with a sign that says: “Huh?”

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