Includes video report
YORK COUNTY, S.C. — Deputies say a man lost more than $140,000 to a lottery scam in York County, South Carolina.
The resident was scammed out of $143,500 via the common "you've won the lottery" scam.
In this case, deputies say two suspects — a "Ben Washington" and "Shirley Marsh" — informed the victim he had won $2.8 million.
"Shirley" reportedly told the victim to send $3,500 to an address in Emporia, Kansas to be able to receive the money.
After that money was sent, deputies say the scammers again called to request two blank checks to "verify" the victim's information. The scammers then cashed the $3,500, then proceeded to write and cash the two checks totaling $140,000.
🚨SCAM ALERT🚨 A York County Resident has been scammed out of $143,500 via the common "You've won the lottery" scam. #SCAMALERT #YCSONews https://t.co/YYkHNLfzyj
— York County Sheriff (@YCSO_SC) February 27, 2020
"This lottery scam is one of the more common scams victims fall prey to every year. In 2018 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 132,470 reports of scams involving prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries that swindled victims totaling $118 million," a release from the York County Sheriff's Office read.
In any possible scam, officials remind residents to never send a person personal information, check, credit card information or a prepaid money card.
"Once the money is gone, it's gone and very difficult to recover," the release read.
VIDEO: Watch the report
What a shame!
I find it amazing that after all the news reports about lottery scams, some people still fall victim to them.
Amazing that none of the Checks Bounced! Who keeps that kind of Money in a Checking Account?
Thats what I was thinking.
That is the one scam phone call been waiting for and they never come. One with the fake IRS I told the guy I'll meet you on the second floor gift store in the airport, Louisville KY to pay the money I 'owe'.
Just last week a smart lady (I thought) was on CBS Evening news. She was told to send $140K for the social security scam and SHE DID.
My latest thing when I do infrequently answer the ones that get around the blockers is to ask them for the password. They ask and I say I need the password that social security said to use when they call. We all know the IRS & SS never calls taxpayers. I didn't answer the call one Saturday from 'social security' but we kept him on the line for 30'!
" It is virtually impossible to be delivered from evil, when they have deliberately allowed themselves to be tempted by greed."
With all the scam alerts it looks like there are still some people drinking the "very gullible laced Kool-aid".
Awful.
The thing with drinking " Kool-aid" Stack is that once it enters the body, it poisons the heart & mind to the point that you can't tell the difference between reality & fantasy.This person was so blinded by riches that he/she were willing to surrender 100K plus of their personal fortune in order to get "that larger prize." It's the carrot & the stick mentality and walking away after say a $10,000 loss was not an option.
l was told l won darn it..
Since you brought it up BD, l too was called by the "SS administration " telling me my SS # has been suspended because of fraudulent activity. So l played along with this guy. The # was from Wis, and l know no one from that State. So l called back and almost immediately the guy says l am in " serious trouble." Asks me for my SS # & l made it up on the fly, name please: l say Mitch McConn, he tells me that my number has been used in money laundering in Austin Texas- long story short: Asks if l had any money saved in any financial institutions, l say yeah: Which he asks: Bank of Texas & BOA. Asks if l have a saving or checking- l say both. Asks the balance, me says $230,000 in BOA & $50,000 in Bank of Texas. Next l was told to hang on while he sends my information to a " Senior Consultant ".. first question from the new guy was " Could you give me your SS# " and l said, " l just did with the previous guy l was talking too".. He says, well this is a verification process.. l hung up!
Btw: The 1st caller had an Indian accent. 2nd consultant, sounded American.
"two blank checks to "verify" the victim's information."
How does that saying go, again? Is it "a moron and his money are soon parted"?
Got a letter from the KY Department of Revenue saying I had to fill out a identity quiz to get my refund and my "it's a scam" radar went off. But it was legit.
It's just amazing how many people who were intelligent enough to save a large amount of money and then fall for a scams. The key to a good scam is usually too much detail and in the SS scam "you're in serious trouble" and "what's your SS number" should set off any "it's a scam" radar.
If they don't know you're SS number how could they know you're in serious trouble?
The " you hot water" nonsense. The trick l noticed was that this guy brought up money laundering & switched to " do you have money in any bank etc." of you not thinking clearly, you may assume the reason they asking this, is because you accused of ML. When they asked how much one has in these banks, that to me is either a green light to go after you or not, l suspect they drop a lot of these calls of you say " l have $120.00" total. At least l educated myself enough to know how the game is played. Hopefully this helps others out there who would simply hang up the phone should the identity themselves as a SS or government agent.
Every State Lottery has scam alerts on their websites, but lots of the scam are not even lottery related like the SS scam. The common denominator is scams of all kinds are usually aimed at seniors. But there are several IRS refund scams making rounds too that effect all ages.
Probably not possible to educate everybody or even convince some that if you never entered a contest, you can't win their imaginary jackpot. At the end of the day, all we can do is shake our heads and wonder how some people can be so gullible.
I'm going to have to try to remember to do the same thing. They probably salivate like Pavlov's dog and right hand probably itching like mad!
l would encourage you to give it a shot the next time they call BD. Remember: nothing ventured, nothing gained. See if your experience mirrors mine. They probably have a " playbook" that they work off & sooner or later they going to reel someone in. Try using a fictitious SS #, one that is not even close to your own. The speed with which they " pull up your information" is incredible. If you paying attention, you can hear lots of activity going on in the background, people working the phones- l mean these people are busy bringing chaos to order.
The 1st guy did not ask for my bank acct #'s, but had l continued with the 2nd guy l was handed off to- l would have expected him to finally come up with " Can we have those checking & saving account numbers Sir.' If one asked- Why? l think the response could be something like " Well, we need to check whether it complies with Federal Standards, or if a trail of laundered money is sitting in your account, you may not know, but we do. We deal with this stuff all the time."
That's when you say...
It is very sad, but sadly, a fool and his money are soon parted. If had actually won a jackpot, and it was publicised, he would also have become a target of conmen.
This is sad to read this happened in my home town Emporia, Kansas that shocked me when i read this. I did a truepeoplesearch dot com on Shirley Marsh gave me an address shared it on facebook here i want them to get busted for the federal crime.
'They' just called saying fraudulent activity TX; mashed '1' but it didn't connect, darn it!
You missed out on a golden opportunity to engage them in wits. You had better bone up on your skills my friend, cause l am looking forward to hearing how you came off victorious.
BD, word to the wise: Write down your fictitious name & SS# in "advance" on a piece of paper.When l got my call, l had to act on the spur of the moment in order to hold these folks feet to the fire. My mistake was " not remembering " the fictitious SS # l gave them the first time around, which was the reason l dropped the call. You knowing this in advance & playing them at your game will get you further than l did. Get to the head of the snake, the one that wants you to give your account #'s over. Don't forget to report back on how you played them. Try not to laugh or the game is up.
* This is going to be so much fun..
Good advice. She only said the # to call one time. Yup have my fake Medicare # written down from the TV ad and don't even have Medicare yet for those calls. Will keep you posted!