LIHU‘E — You may not have won the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, but there is a calling center in Jamaica that wants to scam Kaua‘i residents into believing they did. At least two Kaua‘i residents reported receiving multiple calls from
LIHU‘E — You may not have won the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, but there is a calling center in Jamaica that wants to scam Kaua‘i residents into believing they did.
At least two Kaua‘i residents reported receiving multiple calls from the number 876-441-8194, which is listed as a Jamaica number.
The Federal Trade Commission has identified this fraudulent telemarketing scam as callers identifying themselves as lawyers, customs officials, or lottery representatives.
After informing the caller that they’ve won cash, vacations, cars and other prizes, they ask the victim to pay for fees, shipping, insurance, customs duties, and taxes in order to process their winnings.
The Kaua‘i residents report receiving a first call to inform them that they had won $2.5 million in the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.
“My husband said ‘you have to be kidding!’” said one resident who received the calls. The caller hung up after uttering an obscenity directed at the man.
When this call failed, another came around 10 minutes later from a different operator with the same number. They informed the resident that they were a second-runner winner in the same contest.
The caller hung up after uttering an obscenity to the man.
The second call came minutes later about the second-runner up prize and the husband said “but I just won $2.5 million. How can I lose so much in 10 minutes?”
The Kaua‘i Police Department posted an online recording of a scam call attempt made to Chief of Police Darryl Perry with audio that is posted on YouTube and a link from the KPD website.
The Kaua‘i Police Department urges the public to be cautious of phone and Internet scams. If you suspect a scam call KPD, 241-1711.
In addition, report scams to the FTC by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or online at www.consumer.ftc.gov.
