HASTINGS, Mich. – The following news release was sent to FOX 17 from Hastings Police Chief Jerry Sarver.
On April 8th Hastings Officers responded to a reported fraud complaint. Upon arrival the victim’s daughter advised Officers that she believed that her mother had been victimized. The statements then revealed that the elderly mother may have been scammed out of more than $350,000.00. It was revealed that numerous phone calls had been made to the woman by someone claiming to be agent of the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes, and that the woman had won eight million dollars. The woman was then asked to forward some money to cover the taxes. Over the next several months the woman had been asked to send in more and more money to cover additional taxes and fees- and that her winnings were on the way. Money had been sent in both check and cash form. The investigation is continuing. LAW ENFORCEMENT NATION-WIDE HAVE BEEN PEADING WITH INDIVIDUALS TO NOT SEND MONEY TO UNKNOWN PERSONS OR BUSINESS. IT SHOULD NOT COST YOU PERSONAL FUNDS TO CLAIM WINNINGS. IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE- IT’S PROBALBY A SCAM. The elderly are targeted habitually for this sort of crime. The Hastings Police continue to encourage sons and daughters to monitor bank account statements of their elderly parents. “Discuss the scams with them making them aware that they are vulnerable”.
