Scammer using lottery ploy to get personal information

Sep 7, 2005, 7:43 am (2 comments)

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If your phone rings at night and the man on the other end says he's with the New York Lottery and you've just won the "Win for Life" game – or any other lottery contest – don't believe him.

Several residents of Newburgh, New York, told police yesterday that they'd gotten such calls.

According to police, after telling the people who answered the phone they'd won, the caller then said he needed some personal information to verify their winning ticket, including their full name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. He named a store near their homes as the place where they supposedly bought the winning ticket.

Police said the well-spoken man was irate when his story was questioned.

Police said lottery officials do not contact winners in the middle of the night and do not ask for personal information over the phone. They're asking anyone else who got such a call to contact them at 564-1100.

Times Herald-Record

Comments

CASH Only

Anybody who says you won periodic payments is trying to rip you off. The real Lose for Life isn't worth playing either.

Chewie

Some people believe in anything, even though they have been told a zillion times that is a scam. Buy 'em books and buy 'em books, and all they do is chew on the covers.

End of comments
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