Publisher's Clearing House Scam

DATE & TIME: 10-05-2017 / 12:13 pm           

LOCATION: Beatrice, Nebraska      

OFFENSE: “Publisher’s Clearing House Scam”

CASE #: 2017-5523

A Beatrice resident reported to a Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigator that he had received a telephone call on the morning of 10-05-2017 and the phone number showed that it was a person in his cell phone contact list, so he answered the call. He states a person began telling him he had won 6.5 million dollars ($6,500,000.00) as part of “Publisher’s Clearing House”.

The resident stated he recognized this as part of an attempted scam when the caller began to ask for his banking information, so he hung up. He said he often reads in the newspaper about these type of scams.  The resident called back to a number he had been given during the initial call and he wound up speaking to someone who had a distinct accent and was speaking in a foreign language.

After confirming with the Beatrice resident that he had not given out any personal, financial, or confidential information about himself and had not lost any money, he was cautioned to monitor his mail and financial accounts. The Beatrice Police Department was notified of the call to the sheriff’s office for their investigative purposes.

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office urges people to use caution and common sense when receiving phone calls, e-mails, or regular mail stating they have won prizes. Anyone who receives a suspicious offer can contact their local police department or contact the Gage County Sheriff’s Office and ask to speak with an investigator.  If it is an emergency, contact the sheriff’s office and request to speak with an on duty deputy.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310