Police: New City Woman Loses $8,500 In Telephone Scam
Victim thought she would be getting a $350,000 prize.
Lured by the promise of a $350,000 payout, a New City woman has been scammed out of $8,500 by thieves who said they wanted to help her collect a sweepstakes prize she had won, according to Clarkstown police.
The woman, 58, was so convinced by her telephone conversations that she was getting the prize money that she sent the scammers three separate payments via West Union.
Clarkstown detectives are investigating the scam, which began when the woman received a phone call at home in February from a man claiming to be from the “Federal Trace Commission” saying he had discovered she had won a prize through the “Mutual Liberty Sweeps.”
Police said the woman was told she could claim her $350,000 prize by submitting a $3,500 processing fee. The woman sent the money via Western Union, but never received the prize.
The prize award, police said, seemed believable to the woman because she was given contact information and a tracking number for her prize. When the woman called to find out when she would be receiving her money, police said she then spoke with someone claiming to be with “Lloyds of America,” who said the woman would have to send another $3,500 because of a supposed problem with the first payment that was sent.
Police said the victim did send another $3,500 via Western Union. And, the women would go on to send another $1,500 when she was told by telephone that her payment was held up by “customs” and she needed to pay to have her prize released.
The Western Union payments went to Greenville, SC, police said. The victim contacted Clarkstown police about the scam on Friday.
The New City woman is the third Clarkstown resident since December 2010 to tell police they’ve been the victims of scams. In December, a town resident was cheated out of $2,540 through a “mystery shopper” e-mail scam, and in January another resident lost $3,000 after responding to a letter from England that indicated he had won a big lottery.
New City Florist
5:04 pm on Monday, March 14, 2011
That's just a shame! I guess it could happen to anyone.
Rockland mom
5:38 pm on Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Well something like this similar has happened with my family, I was convinced 100% by this company which I am fighting for my money back " sotoholdingsinc.com they claim to help lower mortgage, and Guaranteed to lower my mortgage between $1,800-$2,000 and they scammed me $3,500 and my mortgage was only reduce by $400.00 . They have in papers stating if denied only fee due is $595.00 , i was denied numerous times, i told them give me money bk and just to forget it, they insisted to keep trying and never gave me my money bk! I have paid them more than what my mortgage was reduced by!!! I am currently fighting this with the BBb.org next step with my local attorney generals office!! Remember Soto consultants , do not do any sort of business with these people, they operate with multiple addresses and phone numbers which I wasn't aware of until recently, I have been doing research on this company, but I was in need of desperate, and thought this company was legit!!! If anyone has Any helpful hint as to getting my money bk plz let me know!
CHERYL BURDETTE
12:59 pm on Saturday, April 2, 2011
THIS SAME "JAMES KENNEDY" CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME THE SAME LINE OF BULL. SINCE THEN, I HAVE REPORTED HIM TO THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION FOR IMPERSONATING A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THE COMPANY "MUTUALLIBERTYSWEEPS.COM." I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CALLING EVERY BUSINESS ON THE LIST OF COMPANIES THAT MUTUAL LIBERTY CLAIMS TO REPRESENT ON THEIR WEBSITE, AND I AM NOT GOING TO STOP UNTIL THESE PEOPLE GO DOWN. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY TRYING TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING OUT OF US HARD-WORKING CITIZENS. TOGETHER WE CAN PUT A STOP TO THIS. THEY EVEN CLAIM TO REPRESENT MCDONALDS RESTAURANTS SWEEPS. WELL I'VE GOT SOME SAD NEWS FOR MUTUAL LIBERTY SWEEPS, I HAVE GOT MCDONALDS LAWYERS ALL OVER THIS SCAM RIGHT NOW! SO WATCH OUT SCAMMERS, I AM GONNA FIGHT BACK, AND I SUGGEST EVERY OTHER PERSON IN AMERICA DO THE SAME, AND HOPEFULLY THE NEXT CALL WE GET SAYING WE WON MONEY WILL BE A CALL WE CAN BELIEVE!