The family of an elderly American woman is claiming that she has been conned out of about US$800-thousand over the past several months, in a version of the Jamaican lottery scam.
The daughter and son-in-law of the 87-year-old woman who lives in South Strabane Township, Pennyslvania, called the police after the alleged victim got another call on December 27, from what was believed to be a Jamaican telephone number.
The caller represented himself as being from Publishers Clearing House, telling her she had won US$ 750-thousand but needed to send US$300 to collect her winnings.
The caller persuaded the woman to get a money card in the amount, and send it to him.
Another caller also posed as a representative of the woman’s bank.
Her family has taken her cellphone, so she can no longer be contacted by the scammers.
Police said the elderly woman is still convinced she will eventually get the money she was promised by the callers.
Township police, Detective Ken Torboli, said the prepaid money gift cards are hard to trace, which is likely why they are used by the con artists.
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