The Shawnee Dispatch / Residents warned of sweepstakes scam

Archive for Tuesday, March 16, 2010

March 16, 2010

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe is warning of a scam in which area residents are called and congratulated on winning a publishing house sweepstakes then contacted again separately seeking a tax payment on the prize.

Howe’s office said over the weekend individuals who had received telephone calls from fraudsters claiming to represent the Reader’s Digest Sweepstakes contacted the Olathe Police Department. The callers told the individuals they were winners of a $32,000 prize. The individuals then were contacted by the “IRS” advising them they would have to pay 9 percent taxes of their winnings.

Howe cautioned individuals to protect themselves by discarding offers that ask to pay fees, taxes or other charges to claim a prize. Anyone who thinks they are a victim of a sweepstakes is asked to contact the D.A.’s Consumer Hotline at (913) 715-3003.