McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

February 20, 2013

New scam reported in McAlester

Associated Press

McALESTER — It’s another scam.

A McAlester resident has reported to police that he received notification Monday that he’s a winner of the “American International New York State Lottery.”

However, he knew something was wrong when he was given instructions that he knew could result in him getting ripped off.

As part of the process to collect his so-called winnings, he was told to go to a store and to purchase a “scratch” money card for $125. After that, he was to report the PIN number and card number to whoever answered a telephone at a number he’d been given when told he’d won the lottery.

However, the intended scam victim knew that if he gave the PIN number and card number to another individual over the phone, that person could use the entire $125.

The intended victim reported the scam to McAlester police and said he wanted to get the word out to warn others in the area who might be approached in a similar matter.

McAlester Police Det. Capt. Gary Wansick said Tuesday that law enforcement officers are familiar with such scams.

“They happen constantly across the nation and they hit McAlester on occasion,” he said.

Wansick said the intended McAlester victim had been absolutely right to be suspicious when he had been asked to do what amounted to sending money to someone.

“If it’s a legitimate organization, when you’ve won money, they’re not going to ask you to send money,” Wansick said.

Do not send money to people who tell you that you’ve won money, Wansick advised.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

For more on this story, see the print or electronic editions of the McAlester News-Capital. Click here for print edition home delivery or click here to see the Smart Edition for your computer, tablet, e-reader or smartphone.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
Seasonal Content
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
NDN Video
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion Woman tricked into taking abortion pill Emma Watson Goes Pantless IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes Raw: Marines Come to Obama's Aid in the Rain CUTE: Monkey shares lollipop with dog, then HITS pooch on head with it Miranda Kerr Looks Sexy in a Bikini Photo Shoot
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.