74-year-old scammed into giving credit card number

Published 11:02 am Monday, December 19, 2011

A 74-year-old Adams woman thought she won $11.5 million in cameras Friday — until she realized it was a scam.

The woman called police Friday afternoon after receiving a phone call from a man claiming to be a New York lawyer who worked for the Mega Millions Lottery. According to Chief Deputy Mark May, the man told her she had won $11.5 million and she could either accept cash or the same value in cameras.

He asked her for her name, date of birth, credit card information and social security number as well.

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The victim told police she accepted the $11.5 million in cameras and gave the man her name, date of birth and credit card info but grew suspicious when he asked for her social security number. May said she became more wary when the man told her to go to Walmart with her credit card to pay for the shipping on the cameras, which the man said would be delivered via UPS.

Mower County Sheriff’s deputies were able to track the suspect’s number and tried to call back. May said the number was traced to Kingston, Jamaica. The woman reportedly canceled her credit card.