Phone scam promises cash, car

By Darla Hernandez (darlah@wsbt.com)

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Phone scam

In a new phone scam hitting our area, "Golden Cash" says you're the lucky winner of millions in cash and a luxury car. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jun 12, 2009 at 1:24 PM EST

Story Updated: Jun 18, 2009 at 12:08 PM EST

In a new phone scam in our area, a company calls claiming to be from Nevada, saying you're the lucky winner of millions in cash and a luxury car. But we traced the calls to a number in Jamaica. Police say it's a scam to get your cash and personal information.

When Jack Skevington picked up the phone Thursday night, he heard quite a surprise.

"[He told us] we won $2.5 million and a new Mercedes Benz and all we had to do was call their claims department,” he said. “I think they are probably just calling people one after another and seeing how many call back.”

So we decided to call the company — “Golden Cash” — about their claims.

WSBT: "You said that you are calling out of Nevada but this phone number is out of Jamaica.”
Golden Cash: “No. What I am trying to tell you [is] this phone number is hooked up worldwide."
WSBT: “This is a scam. How are you able to give people $2 million?”
Golden Cash: “No ma’am, don't say that ma'am.” (hangs up)

When a WSBT intern called the so-called company, they told her to wire $300 to them using MoneyGram, and then they would return that money later with the car and prize money.

"[If you’ve] never heard of the company, and then you look at the area code and it looks like a funny area code, you’ve got to be a little suspicious,” Skevington added.

Whether it's by phone, cell, or email, police say it’s all a scam. They say never to give out personal information and if anyone asks for money upfront you know it's not legitimate.

Skevington says his mother has already fallen victim to a similar phone scam and hopes it won't happen to anyone else.

"Probably the people that are going to get hurt are the ones that can least can afford it,” he said.

Police say once the money is wired or sent, it's very difficult to get it back, especially when it's out of the country. Never send money or give personal information out.

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