KGVY Radio, Monday, February 11, 2008

Green Valley Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers

Bill Roskey

This past week, more people reported lost wallets and purses to SAV. When that happens, it means a whole lot of inconvenience to the owner, from cancelling credit cards and obtaining new ones to replacing driver’s licenses and other identification, so be careful with those wallets.

This past week, two Green Valley residents reported familiar scams to SAV. One woman received an e-mail from South Africa telling her she had been left $15,000,000 by someone who had died in a plane crash. She was told to contact an individual for additional details. The e-mail also stated that the Green Valley woman would get 35 percent of the money, and the rest would belong to the sender of the e-mail. Recognizing a con game, the woman didn’t reply. Another woman reported a sweepstakes scam to SAV. She was called Sunday evening and told that she had won $750,000 in the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. A common scam, but this one had a strange new twist. She was told that the check would be delivered by three people the next morning at 9:00 am, at which time she had to give the messengers $650 in cash. The next morning, she received another call at 7:00 am to remind her to have her money ready. While this Green Valley woman could also see a scam when she saw one, and had no intention of handing over the money, she was understandably concerned about the possibility of three people showing up on her doorstep and demanding $650 in cash. No one did show up, probably because they realized she was on to their game. Should other Green Valley residents get similar calls, remember that reputable sweepstakes are not run in this manner. If anyone shows up at your doorstep to collect money from you supposedly because you have “won” a contest, remember you don’t have to open the door, and help is as near as 911 on your telephone if you feel threatened.