Two of Santa Barbara County senior citizens were targeted. They each received a postcard, which was quickly followed-up with a telephone call explaining that the senior had won a prize. The caller asked for money to pay for taxes on a one million dollar prize. The victim got suspicious and called the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department.
T here are many warning signs to be aware of.
The caller will often depict the opportunity as urgent. The caller insists that the payment be made by private courier or wire transfer. The caller will sometimes ask for a social security number or credit card number. The caller may even offer to get back money a person has previously lost in another scam, for a fee. The caller sounds extremely friendly, articulate, sincere, and will have an answer for every objection made.