Scam Phone Call
By stealthy
@stealthy (8181)
United States
November 4, 2012 12:41pm CST
Last Friday at 10 pm I got a call from some guy with a bit of an accent telling me I had won $1.2 million tax free. He wanted to know if I would be home at noon the next day for Publishers Clearing House to bring me a check. He asked if I had gotten a black and while envelope in the mail about it. He said that it was the result of me having filled out a coupon at WalMart Walgreens; I don't know of any WalMart having a Walgreens in it. I told him that I had trouble believing him because it was so late. He then told me that it was 7:30 where he was in Las Vegas, Nevada. I told him that was wrong, that it wasn't 7:30 in Las Vegas and when I kept insisting it was wrong he hung up. Even though he knew my name and even pronounced my first name correctly which few people do who haven't met me, I am pretty sure it was a scam. Of course he could have gotten how to pronounce my name by calling and getting my answering machine which has a message that gives my first name when callers are asked to leave a message. I figure this was just another one of those Nigerian scams and I didn't even let him get far enough to say that I would have to pay some kind of fee or whatever in order to get or cash the check or to ask for my private information that could be used to steal my identity.
2 people like this
16 responses
@Sindelle (824)
• United States
4 Nov 12
That's a little creepy to me that he wanted to know if you'd be home at a certain time. I've received a few phone calls before but nothing lately and nothing quite like that. Mostly they try asking for my debit card, social security number, or bank account number. I used to feel awful when I worked at a bank years ago. I'd talk to mostly elderly customers who would fall for these scams and find themselves broke. Way to keep your guard up.
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28611)
• United States
4 Nov 12
When you get scams like this I would tell you're local police station about them because then they can contact other people and let them know about the scams and to not give out any information. That's what we do here and if the scams turn out to be a big threat they put it on the news stations so everyone is aware. It's creepy what people will do to try to get information from you and ruin you're life, never trust anyone. I got rid of my home phone a few years ago and only use my cell phone so if it's a number I'm not sure of I don't even bother answering it. I hope you never get another call like this again but if you do, do what I said and report it to your local police station.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
14 Nov 12
Oh yes I'm sure it was a scam!! What lowlifes who go around trying to scam others! How can such a person or organization, once they have robbed somebody, perhaps some elderly person's life savings, how can they sleep at night. A sad part is, they probably sleep quite well!
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
4 Nov 12
Sure does sound like a scam to me. I can't recall ever hearing of a Walmart Walgreens before and the guy couldn't even get the time of day right. Also, I thought Publishers Clearing House just came to your door and surprised you not called the night before to make sure you would be home ruining the surprise.
1 person likes this
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
4 Nov 12
Its that time of year. Every year around the holiday season these new scam pop up. Funny thing is, people must fall for these. or why do they keep trying. I bet some elderly fall for them. Good you realized what it was. have a great day there.
@Raine38 (12388)
• United States
4 Nov 12
I agree. Whenever holidays are just around the corner, expect more "creative" ways of people trying to get you to give them your money. The thing is, if you don't remember signing up for anything or joining any contest, then there's really no chance of you winning anything. Good thinking on your part, maybe they should polish on their geography and time to be more convincing next time, but I don't mean to wish you another encounter with the likes of them.
@mr_pearl (5018)
• India
4 Nov 12
Hi... You've been very wise in not disclosing any personal information... Yes, I'm sure, it is another kind of scam. I'm wondering; these scamsters now have started calling up people. Earlier they resorted to e mails and text messages... They're so shameless that they can go to any extent... If you've the number that you received the call from, please report it to the police. The problem with the scamsters is they're not afraid of lawful punishment. The punishments are not more than 2 years... So they get off easily and start with their dirty business again... I think, they should create special laws for such scamsters...
It's really hard to believe anything these days, especially winning a huge amount.
People should just stop scamming others. 
@pecito (303)
• Bulgaria
4 Nov 12
In my country it is often said on the news that many old people became victims of crimes on the telephone. For example, an old woman answers the phone and she hears the trembling voice of a man pretending to be her son, saying that he is in trouble because had a car accident in which he hit a pedestrian, and now he is in the police station and he needs to pay some lawyer. So the old woman meets the supposed 'lawyer' and gives him all of her monthly income( meaning her pension) to cover the expenses of her so-called 'son'. It's normal that in such situation the old woman calls her real son and asks him if there is really something like that. The problem is that old people are very vulnerable and don't think reasonable. That's why they easily become victims of fraudulent actions.
@eagletrek2 (5499)
• Kingston, New York
4 Nov 12
Hi it a scam Walmart and Walgreens are
Not in the same store Walmart has
There own pharmacy that were
This scamper mess.IP.
@olliekobra1 (1825)
•
4 Nov 12
It sounds dodgy I definatly think its a scam and I bet he did want some sort of fee of you , you done the right thing on hanging up on this guy. I recently had an experience like this a man phoned my house telling me I had a computer virus and that he needed me to switch my computer on I didn't like it so I hung up. I spoke to a friend of mine who had a similar experiance and he said it was a scam to get your passwords.
@sarahb411 (75)
• United States
5 Nov 12
I've never gotten the PCH fake phonecall. I've gotten alot of emails about a foreign lottery I never entered (in a country I've never been in). PCH is getting ready to announce a winner so I would imagine alot of scammers are trying to jump on that ban wagon. The PCH website and facebook page I believe has a list of things they'll never do, I've never heard of PCH entry forms at stores-- let alone at Walmart/Walgreens....(didn't know they were merging! lol.) I got a phonecall once on the day they were announcing a winner, it was a phonecall about buying magazines..(which PCH use to sell tons of) I was abrupt and ended the phonecall...then all day I was wondering if I had hung up on a PCH employee!! lol I think PCH states that they don't call winners....but check their site and you can probably find out exactly how they contact winners so you'll know for sure..
@ungu89 (1999)
• Malaysia
5 Nov 12
sure this is a scam.
as for me i will never believe any of call/email/text that saying i win a grand prize worth million of dollar. its really funny to think about it.
in this world nowdays, i dont think that we can just get something free like that, doing nothing suddenly u got call that said u win some money..
@darkmeiji (48)
• Philippines
5 Nov 12
Well, I believe if you do not join anything, you cannot win anything. It was smart of your caller to say that it is because you filled out a coupon, however things like that can be easily verified so it is good you were wise enough to not give any private information that the caller can probably misuse.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
4 Nov 12
This guy must have some things much more sinister in his mind than just want to scam you, he probably know a lot about you than you can imagine, he may have his eye on you for a while already and is looking for the right moment to execute next step in his plan by calling you at night. It is just too early to conclude it is just another Nigerian Scam someone trying to pull it out from you. 
@Visdude11 (211)
• Norway
4 Nov 12
This was obviously a scam, and I'm glad that you are smart enough to avoid it. In my country I don't get these calls, and I'm glad for that :) Please don't let yourself fall for any of these scams. Thank you for sharing with us :)
