You've Won, Just Send Us Some Money

Wilkes county deputies are warning the public about a possible scam being worked by phone in the area. A State Road woman called deputies yesterday afternoon, and said a family member had just been called and told he'd won a sweepstakes he didn't remember entering. When the woman called the number given her father, it was answered "U-S Customs." When she asked for the person he'd been told to ask for, the man came to the phone and told her that her father would have to go to Wal-Mart within the hour and get a moneygram for 900-dollars, and have it sent to an address in Canada. She was told the money was insurance for the people who would fly in to Raleigh and deliver the winnings. A deputy got much the same results when he called, with the caller initially identifying the number as U-S Customs. But when he asked for the man, he was told the person was not available, but would call him back shortly. Deputies say this is a frequently-tried scam, and no one should have to pay a penny to claim winnings from a sweepstakes.