Police Warn Of Telephone Fraud

A Sugar Street woman has alerted police of a suspicious situation in which a telephone caller sought to have her send in $750 via Western Union in order for her to claim a $45,000 prize which she had supposedly won in a Publishers Clearing House contest.

Police consequently are warning members of the public to be wary of such situations in which they are asked to send money to an unknown person in order to claim a large money prize.

Police said the woman on December 11 received a telephone call from the caller, whom she did not know, who claimed to represent Publishers Clearing House. The caller told the woman that she had won $45,000 in a contest, but in order to claim her winnings she had to send a $750 attorney’s fee via Western Union to a person in Kingston, Jamaica.

The woman realized that the call was suspicious and did not send the money, but contacted police to warn them of the apparent scam, said police Detective Sergeant John Cole. Patrol Officer Leonard Penna investigated the case.

Police urge residents to be very cautious when speaking to unknown persons on the telephone. Police urge that residents not provide any personal information to such callers or send them any money because such situations may well involve schemes designed to defraud people of money.