State Police out of Greensburg are letting the public know that a new variation on an old scam is starting to circulate in the area.
According to police, a woman in the Unity Township area was called multiple times between June 1st and September 12th from someone claiming to be with the Publisher’s Clearing House prize patrol, saying the victim won a new car, and she needed to send money to them for tax, title and transfer fees. The victim refused the prize, but was called a few days later with the same pitch. A third call increased the prize to five million dollars and a car, with the scammer asking for $150 for a transfer fee, which the victim sent in cash to an address in Des Moines, Iowa. The scammer called again, asking for another $250 for vehicle transfer fees to be sent to Des Moines, and the victim complied. About a week after that call, another call came in asking for another $1400 in cash for the taxes on the $5 million prize. When she told the scammer she didn’t have that much money, he suggested she pawn jewelry, which she did. The money was then sent to an address in New York.
Police are still investigating the scam, and are getting help from state and federal agencies. If you have any information, or if you’ve received a similar call, you’re asked to call the Greensburg Barracks of the State Police at 724-832-3288. And remember to be careful about calls like this. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
