Police Advise of Sweepstakes Scam

Prince William County Police are warning citizens about a sweepstakes scam involving a Mercedes, and a $2.5 million check.

Police said the victim was called at home and someone on the other end claimed they were the winner of a sweepstakes. The victim reported that the caller needed information where to deliver a car and the sizeable prize check, but that the instructions that followed didn’t seem right.

“The subject instructed the victim to go to their local Wal-Mart or CVS and obtain a prepaid card to pay for taxes,” reads a release from the department. “The victim was not able to understand what type of prepaid card or amount."

A similar scam was reported in Prince George’s County, MD, police said. 

“In the Maryland incident the victim received a call stating she won a $2.5 million jackpot and a Mercedes Benz, but the called needed $8,000 from her to cover taxes,” said the release. “They could not take a check but could accept gift cards.”

The victim bought 16 $500 Green Dot gift cards at Wal-Mart, police said. Before the victim left the parking lot the subjects called back and received the gift card validation numbers, which gave them access to the money. 

Follow these tips from police to reduce your chances of becoming a victim:

· If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

· Legitimate sweepstakes don't require you to pay "insurance," "taxes," or

"shipping and handling charges" to collect your prize.

· Do not believe you’ve won a sweepstakes that you haven’t entered.

· Never send money or gift cards to pay for taxes or fees on lottery, prize

winnings or grants.

· If you get a bad feeling about any promotional sweepstakes call you

receive, or get a call saying you won something without ever having

entered to win, just hang up. You can also file a complaint with the Federal

Trade Commission.

· Don’t provide personal or bank information to unknown sources that will

put you at risk for identity theft.