Saturday, April 17, 2004
POLAND -- A township woman recently received a phone call telling her she had won a substantial amount of money.
In the end, however, the transaction left her bank account about $3,000 lighter.
Police report that the 66-year-old Shetland Lane woman received the call Wednesday morning. The caller told her that a $300,000 jackpot was waiting for her. She was even given a number to call U.S. Customs to claim the prize.
When the woman called the number given to her by the caller, she was told she would have to put up $2,800 as insurance for her winnings to be shipped into the country.
The woman wired the money to an individual in Canada. She was waiting for the $300,000 to be delivered to her home Thursday when she received another call.
The woman was told she had won an additional $300,000, but would need another $2,800 as insurance. This time she called the police instead of sending the money.
Officers talked to a man who called the woman claiming to have her prize money, but the man hung up upon learning police had gotten involved. The money has not been recovered.
Township police Sgt. Anthony Sferra said the department has not received any other complaints of similar scams. He cautions residents, however, not to send money to anyone claiming to have prize money waiting.