He told me I won the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes!
By rosegardens
@rosegardens (3032)
United States
March 8, 2011 9:27pm CST
But it was a lie. Hello fellow mylotters. This morning I got a very exciting phonecall, the answer to a prayer. This guy tells me I won the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, informs me I am getting 2.5 million USD, a Mercedes and free gas for a year. He rattled off my address, and he had the wrong one so I gave him the correct one. It did sound legit after all. Until he got to the part where I have to pay taxes through Western Union to a private party. So I decided to play along. 
He also mentioned contacting the delivery team who was on a UPS truck and tell them my proper address and they would be here in an hour. Ok, so if anyone knows about UPS, it just does not work this way. Darn, I gave him my new address!
So I tell him I will go to Western Union and be back in about an hour. He actually called me within 20 minutes but I didn't answer. I was on the phone with Publishers Clearinghouse, explaining the scam. I then called Western Union and did the same thing. The next time my Jamaican friend called (I looked up the number and it is from Jamaica) he asked me if I went to Western Union. Of course I did! He wanted a number, a ten digit one so I made one up and gave it to him to try to track. I went shopping, he must have called at least 10x while I was out. I told some friends what I was up to. Everyone is just enjoying this little saga. He called again this evening and complained about the tracking number not being correct, and called me a liar! Can you imagine? So I said for 2.5 million, why on Earth would I lie to you? 
I said I sent the money, and I'm beginning to think this is a scam because I waited for you with my friends all day at home. He said his super was really p*ss*d (his exact words, what a potty mouth) and put me on hold, I am guessing to talk it over with his co-horts. When he came back I said he is angry, well what about me? I'm losing my unemployment in 2 weeks, I gave you one hundred dollars plus 8 for processing, and a very dear friend of mine needs a surgery that I am going to pay for with the money I am supposed to have right now. He began to apologize, and asked me for my cell phone number so he could call me tomorrow. I lied again and said I don't have one, and I have appointments all day until about 4 oclock. I'm thinking you are trying to scam me, you already got a hundred from me, and I really need that money I said to him. He tried to assure me that he is not trying to scam me, and that I should go to Western Union and straighten this out. So I have to make up another number tomorrow.
I am having great fun with this. If he is hot on my trail, that means there are less people he can really scam out of their hard-earned money. I still have to contact my states attorney general and the FBI, and make them aware of the tracking number I am giving them as well so every time Mr. Jamaica logs it in, the feds have a better chance of catching him.
Fellow Mylotters, have you ever strung a scammer along in a similar manner?
He also mentioned contacting the delivery team who was on a UPS truck and tell them my proper address and they would be here in an hour. Ok, so if anyone knows about UPS, it just does not work this way. Darn, I gave him my new address!
So I tell him I will go to Western Union and be back in about an hour. He actually called me within 20 minutes but I didn't answer. I was on the phone with Publishers Clearinghouse, explaining the scam. I then called Western Union and did the same thing. The next time my Jamaican friend called (I looked up the number and it is from Jamaica) he asked me if I went to Western Union. Of course I did! He wanted a number, a ten digit one so I made one up and gave it to him to try to track. I went shopping, he must have called at least 10x while I was out. I told some friends what I was up to. Everyone is just enjoying this little saga. He called again this evening and complained about the tracking number not being correct, and called me a liar! Can you imagine? So I said for 2.5 million, why on Earth would I lie to you? I said I sent the money, and I'm beginning to think this is a scam because I waited for you with my friends all day at home. He said his super was really p*ss*d (his exact words, what a potty mouth) and put me on hold, I am guessing to talk it over with his co-horts. When he came back I said he is angry, well what about me? I'm losing my unemployment in 2 weeks, I gave you one hundred dollars plus 8 for processing, and a very dear friend of mine needs a surgery that I am going to pay for with the money I am supposed to have right now. He began to apologize, and asked me for my cell phone number so he could call me tomorrow. I lied again and said I don't have one, and I have appointments all day until about 4 oclock. I'm thinking you are trying to scam me, you already got a hundred from me, and I really need that money I said to him. He tried to assure me that he is not trying to scam me, and that I should go to Western Union and straighten this out. So I have to make up another number tomorrow.
I am having great fun with this. If he is hot on my trail, that means there are less people he can really scam out of their hard-earned money. I still have to contact my states attorney general and the FBI, and make them aware of the tracking number I am giving them as well so every time Mr. Jamaica logs it in, the feds have a better chance of catching him.
Fellow Mylotters, have you ever strung a scammer along in a similar manner?2 people like this
9 responses
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
9 Mar 11
I have never had this type of scam but i get them all the time via email...I just delte them normally but after reading & enjoying what you are doing to this guy, I would love to string someone along like that, I can just imagine how much fun you are having! I can't wait to hear the updates of this one
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
Hahahahaha! I am really hoping many people take this idea and use it to turn on the scammers and have fun doing so. Perhaps they will get so frustrated at us and not make any money from their wicked venture, they will turn honest and get jobs instead.
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
Your advice: do you think I should make up another tracking number, or just give him the same one over again? 
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
9 Mar 11
Just use the same one over and over soon the FBI will know it by memory.
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
9 Mar 11
Sounds like you has some fun with that one. I just love it when they call me with something like that I go into my hillbilly accent and really get them going. Or use the "I work for the Attorney General and that really gets them going some.
Most all these come from some place where the US authorities have no jurisdiction. With the VOIP systems it is no great cost to call anywhere in the world anymore.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
10 Mar 11
ah, yes the voip. Darn, I had hoped his crime ring had to pay good money for all these phonecalls! Forgot all about the voip. 
My friend tried calling me all day when I told him I would not be home so of course I did not answer, but after the time I told him I would be home, he did not try to call me. I am a bit depressed at this, as I had a 'con' of my own to give.
I would tell him the money had been taken out of the account, I checked with Western Union ( a fella named Jim Beam--the Jamaican dude told me his name was John Walker--get the connection? hahahaha! and bring in my ol' granddad somehow in the convo) and I want my Mercedes. You took my $200.00 I would cry. (remember now, it was only for $100.00!) I am going to call the Pubishers Clearinghouse directly, because someone took my money and you won't give me my 2.5 million and my car! I soo wanted this little acting gig. Ah, well. I'm sure there will be others I can play with in the future. You know, I feel kind of mean doing this..........
My friend tried calling me all day when I told him I would not be home so of course I did not answer, but after the time I told him I would be home, he did not try to call me. I am a bit depressed at this, as I had a 'con' of my own to give.
I would tell him the money had been taken out of the account, I checked with Western Union ( a fella named Jim Beam--the Jamaican dude told me his name was John Walker--get the connection? hahahaha! and bring in my ol' granddad somehow in the convo) and I want my Mercedes. You took my $200.00 I would cry. (remember now, it was only for $100.00!) I am going to call the Pubishers Clearinghouse directly, because someone took my money and you won't give me my 2.5 million and my car! I soo wanted this little acting gig. Ah, well. I'm sure there will be others I can play with in the future. You know, I feel kind of mean doing this..........
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
9 Mar 11
I've seen a lot of those from emails, but I would always tell them that if they were really giving me the money, why would I need to give them a few hundreds? and even said at one point that I'm rich so I don't need his money anymore.. hehee..
Though, my uncle got scammed big time when some guy posted as someone who would give him a job outside our country but he needed to do several stuff. We didn't know about it because he kept it a secret until he asked my dad where to get some shot and my dad wondered because they didn't use those shots anymore since 1950's but he got them otherwise. Afterwhich we found out (sadly on his side) that it was indeed a scam.
Well.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
I am sorry to hear he got scammed. It is terrible these evil wicked hearted people prey on others the way they do.
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
9 Mar 11
It pays to be leary of phone calls that tell you that you are a winner. it just sounds like a scam in the making. I believe that if you truly won something as huge as Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes, you would be informed by mail or by a greeting at your door. Take care!1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
Yes, they would just come to the door, or let you know by email that you have won.
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
Also, they would never ask for tax money before you get the money. The IRS will surely do its duty and send the bill directly to your home.
@hemlockspruce25 (501)
• Philippines
9 Mar 11
I've experienced this many times but I don't give in. The most common scam I often receive is on my cellular phone where someone would text me and pretend to be someone I knew and tells me to send him a load to his new number. I often ignore messages like this. I even received a text message saying i won the lottery and that I need to contact a certain atty. I'd tell them they can keep the money. After all it looks like they need it more than I do..lol!
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
9 Mar 11
This is bad since the Gov't opened up and allow cell phones to be public now. I called and had mine added to the no call list.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
On occasion I get text messages. I look the number up on the computer and usually there is at least one complaint about that phone number, so I make another one.
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
10 Mar 11
For goodness sake! Why on Earth would they do that? They tell you to quit smoking for your health, but you know, some people have stalkers and know some unsavory folks that should not ever get your cell phone. It should remain private. So they put our lives at risk a different way.
@wendimac (16)
• Canada
9 Mar 11
About a month or so ago, I received and email from the UK, telling me I had won the microsoft Christmas Lottery! Since I knew I hadn't entered one, I knew this to be untrue. But, I was curious to see how how it would play out. I sent an email back, pretending to be excited and what not. They wanted alot of personal information, like my address, etc, which I gave him because we are planning to move. He sent me another email, telling me that I would have to go to London in the next week to claim the prize. I responded by telling him that I live in Canada, and could not possibly travel to the UK. He responded by giving me a name of some so-called barister, with instructions to contact him to make arrangements for him to pick it up. At that point, I figured the next thing would involve me sending money. So I emailed back, telling him that I work for Microsoft(i don't, but he didn't know that), and that the matter would be looked into by the proper authorities. You know, I never heard from them again! Plus, I told them what they could do with their lottery, if you know what I mean.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
10 Mar 11
lol! It's great to fight back. Perhaps if enough of us do that, they will have to quit as it is no longer lucrative.
@sassygirlanne007 (4517)
• United States
9 Mar 11
I had something like this happen before but I was trying to sell little beaded baskets that i make online and this guy wanted 100 of them and sent me a cashiers check for too much money and it turned out to be a fake check. Good thing I didn't send and money of baskets to him. Hope things work out for you, too bad you didn't win.
1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
I am aware of that one as well. I have been contacted many times about Avon products. They want me to have it shipped to my home, then ship it out to another address. I just tell them they can order it online through the website and it will be sent directly to them. They want the individual Avon reps to order it instead of ordering it themselves because they are using a bogus card.
It is doubly bad when someone tries to scam an artist, because you have put your time, love and effort into making the piece. I am glad you did not fall for this scam.
Maybe one day I shall win for real. I need things, my friends need things and my folks need things. I have big plans if ever I win! Thank you for that.
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
9 Mar 11
ROTFLMAO!
That is soooo funny. No, I have never strung along a scammer. I am on the DO NOT CALL list, so I rarely get those type of phone calls.
Good for you for alerting the authorities, but unfortunately, there is probably little they can do because they have little or no jurisdiction in Jamaica. That's why most of the spam and scams originate from overseas. Regardless, I would still contact everyone.
Nonetheless, you will have to keep us updated on how this plays out.
That is soooo funny. No, I have never strung along a scammer. I am on the DO NOT CALL list, so I rarely get those type of phone calls.
Good for you for alerting the authorities, but unfortunately, there is probably little they can do because they have little or no jurisdiction in Jamaica. That's why most of the spam and scams originate from overseas. Regardless, I would still contact everyone.
Nonetheless, you will have to keep us updated on how this plays out.1 person likes this
@rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
It is my cell phone, so I do not know how he got the number. They are proficient at getting information when they want it. A cell phone is automatically on the do not call list. I led him to believe I have a house phone so he will not bug me all day,and it gives an excuse for not picking up the phone right off, I tell him I was not home when he called. I just wonder how much these phone calls are costing him and his team members. Hopefully a lot more than the 200.00 they are trying to soak me for. Unless they have found a way to steal the phone line.
I just wonder how much these phone calls are costing him and his team members. Hopefully a lot more than the 200.00 they are trying to soak me for. Unless they have found a way to steal the phone line.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
9 Mar 11
Wow this is the 3rd discussion today about scammers on the rise and each one done in lucrative ways.
When I get a call and or email as yours, I always tell them to deduct the fees from my earnings and take a tip while they are at it, and send me my winnings which I would gladly accept. lol, the call always ends right there.
Thanks for the warning, seems like it is never ending. 
Thanks for the warning, seems like it is never ending. @rosegardens (3032)
• United States
9 Mar 11
I did tell him that at first, but he kept talking like I was his fish on a hook, so I let him and decided to lead him on. It's his own dumb fault. lololol!
