VWPD issues warning on local scam calls

VW independent/submitted information

The Van Wert Police Department has recently received several complaints concerning phone calls in which the caller is claiming area residents have won some type of sweepstakes, etc., and usually informs them they are a prize money winner. Before the prize money can be released, however, the caller tells people they need to send a certain amount of money, due to fees owed or some similar reason, to a location. Money has been sent to these scam artists with hopes of receiving these large cash prizes and of course that never occurs, because it’s a scam.

The Van Wert Police Department would like to make sure the public understands the following:

• If you never entered any “sweepstakes” or contests, then you will not be a winner in one.
• If you win a prize or money, etc., you will not have to give money to the contest coordinators so you can collect that prize.
• Never give out any personal information or banking information (account numbers or routing numbers) to someone on the phone, especially if it is not a company or person you know.
• If you think the situation may be legitimate, get a contact name and callback number and tell the caller you will be calling them back to make sure the contact is legitimate, then use other sources to verify the number given is to a legitimate business.
• Remember the old saying: “If it appears to good to be true, it probably is.”

If you suspect someone is offering you something you did not enter to win, hang up immediately. If you feel you have been scammed and have suffered a loss of some type, contact a local law enforcement agency or the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to report such scams.