JOHNSON COUNTY - A Johnson County resident was bilked out of almost $500 in a scam last week by a con artist who became angry at the victim when she refused to send an additional $700, said officials with the Johnson County Sheriff’s office.
The woman eventually got off the telephone with the suspect.
The victim told authorities that she received a phone call Thursday from someone identifying himself as a representative of Publishers Clearinghouse and saying that she had won a new car, according to a news release form the sheriff’s office.
To collect the car, the woman needed to pay $497 for shipping and she was instructed to use “MoneyPak” to make the payment.
After sending the payment, the woman received a second call about the car, the caller telling her that there was a problem with the Internal Revenue Service and she needed to send an additional $700, authorities said.
By now, the woman realized she was being swindled and she refused to send the $700.
The caller repeatedly tried to persuade her to send the money, becoming angry when she refused, authorities said.
After the victim contacted authorities, investigators determined that the caller's phone number was registered in Jamaica.
Authorities warned residents about the scam on Tuesday by sending out emails.
_ Domingo Ramirez Jr.
The woman eventually got off the telephone with the suspect.
The victim told authorities that she received a phone call Thursday from someone identifying himself as a representative of Publishers Clearinghouse and saying that she had won a new car, according to a news release form the sheriff’s office.
To collect the car, the woman needed to pay $497 for shipping and she was instructed to use “MoneyPak” to make the payment.
After sending the payment, the woman received a second call about the car, the caller telling her that there was a problem with the Internal Revenue Service and she needed to send an additional $700, authorities said.
By now, the woman realized she was being swindled and she refused to send the $700.
The caller repeatedly tried to persuade her to send the money, becoming angry when she refused, authorities said.
After the victim contacted authorities, investigators determined that the caller's phone number was registered in Jamaica.
Authorities warned residents about the scam on Tuesday by sending out emails.
_ Domingo Ramirez Jr.
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