Broome County district attorney warns residents about Publishers Clearing House scam
The Broome County District Attorney's Office is issuing an alert to residents, especially seniors, to be aware of a telephone scam targeting people in the Binghamton area.
District Attorney Paul Battisti said individuals posing as representatives from Publishers Clearing House are calling to inform victims they won a substantial prize.
The scammers then request payment of various fees and taxes to claim the prize, ultimately defrauding seniors of their savings, Battisti said.
Legitimate sweepstakes organizations do not require winners to pay fees upfront to receive their prizes. In addition, people should never provide personal or financial information over the phone or online unless they are certain of the recipient's identity, Battisti said.
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What to do if you suspect a scam
"Should you receive a call from someone claiming that you've won a prize or monetary reward and they request funds via wire transfer or insist on payment through a prepaid gift card for any supposed reason, including taxes, please refrain from complying," Battisti warned. "Such requests are indicative of fraudulent activity and should be treated as such."
The District Attorney's Office advises individuals who suspect they may have been targeted by fraud to report it immediately to local law enforcement. Victims are also encouraged to contact their financial institutions if theiraccounts have been compromised.
Suspected scams can be reported to the state Attorney General's Office Consumer Frauds Bureau at 800-771-7755, or the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov or 877-382-4357.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Binghamton area residents targeted by Publishers Clearing House scam
