By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

An Eagle Communications employee last week reported a scam by an individual reporting to be with Publishers Clearing House.

The alleged scammer left a message on her home landline and told the woman she had won $1.2 million and a Mercedes-Benz.

The woman was told she needed to purchase a money card at Walmart for $499.99 any send the money to a specific account number in the United States.

After the money was sent, the alleged scammer told her she would be sent tax forms and other information to claim her prize. The woman did not send the money.

Assistant Hays Police Chief Brian Dawson said he had not encountered this particular scam before, but the department has encountered other scams that require victims to send money, money cards or provide personal information such as bank account or social security numbers to claim prizes.

He strongly urged residents to not to send money or release any personal information until they have been able to independently verify the person calling is who they say they are and the offer is legitimate. Dawson also recommended requesting any verification of a prize award in writing.

A similar scam involves a supposed call from the IRS, demanding back taxes, Dawson said. However, the IRS will not contact you by phone. It will contact you by mail. It will also not ask you to send money cards for payment.

It can be very difficult for local law enforcement to prosecute scammers or retrieve lost money, especially when the scammer has provided false contact information or if the scammer is located overseas, he said.

However, Dawson encouraged local residents to report scam calls, because it makes law enforcement aware of active scams and allows them to alert others in the community.