Local Radar

Flim-flam takes Johnston woman for $4,634
web posted February 21, 2006

JOHNSTON – A Johnston woman reported to police that she had been the victim of a scam. The woman stated she received a letter telling her she won a “Switzerland Lotto Sweepstakes” and a check for $4,880. The woman took the check to her bank and deposited it.

The bank placed the check into the woman’s account but told her it would be available only as a loan until the check cleared, police reports state. The woman was contacted and told she needed to send taxes that were due on the prize winnings to a woman in Toronto, Canada. Taxes were said to be $2,950. The woman complied. Later she was contacted again and told additional taxes in the amount of $1,684 were due.

The woman again complied and sent the money by Western Union for a total “tax payment” of $4,634 from the original “winnings” of $4,880. Then the inevitable happened, the check issued to her bounced and she is out the $4,634.

The case is being investigated by the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office, SLED and US Customs Agents were to be contacted as well.

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