"WORLD" SWEEPSTAKES Name was verbally unintelligible. PHONE SCAM. Declared me a SWEEPSTAKES WINNER of 2.5 million dollars. Wanted personal information and $11.95 shipping/handling fee. Nationwide

Friday, September 11, 10 AM

Phone call taken by teenage daughter, alerting that a package is to be delivered and needs person home to receive it.  Daughter could not clearly understand caller, so asked them to phone back after verifying with me (away at work at the time of the call) that I would accept a package. Told daughter to give them my cell phone number and I would handle.

I was expecting a delivery of an item purchased, so was thinking this was a delivery call for that item, however, unusual that a UPS or other package necessitated a phone call prior to delivery.

The caller phoned daughter again, was somewhat harrassing in that he wanted her to accept delivery and give information needed for delivery.  She told the caller that she would not do so, and referred caller to me on my cell.

The caller phoned my cell.  It was a middle-aged sounding man, poor English skills.  Bad phone connection (airy and sounding as if I was being either translated or recorded as my words echoed unintelligibly after I spoke each one).  I asked what he was to deliver and at that time he told me I had won $2.6 million dollars (check) and that he would deliver it, but needed someone at home to receive.  I told him I did not enter a sweepstakes and he told me I had talked to a Mr. Anderson and confirmed this 3 months ago.  I denied this.  He became very argumentative.  I told him that I could not understand him clearly, and that I would speak to someone who could speak English, and that he needed to have someone I could understand phone me back.  He said he would do this.  I hung up.

30 minutes later, he called again and said he could not find anyone available to talk to me.  I told him that I would not speak to him.  He asked "why I did not believe him," and he was just "doing his job," and wanted to deliver the package.  I told him to go ahead and deliver it.  What address and name did he have?  He listed off a totally different name and address and I told him that he had the wrong number and to leave me alone. I hung up.

He immediately called back and asked why I hung up on him.  I told him that he had the wrong number.  He asked for my address and name and I told him I would not give him that over the phone.  But, I asked for HIS company name, address and phone number and I would get in touch with them.  I told him that I was going to call the police if he did not leave me alone.  He hung up.

He called again later, and I told him he was making me very upset (I was in a doctor's office at the time of this call - in the bathroom, even)!   He told me that I WAS UPSETTING HIM by being so rude to him!  I hung up on him and silenced my cell phone ringer.

I alerted my daughter (and now son and husband who were home) not to answer the phone if the call came in on our caller ID as UNLISTED, UNIDENTIFIED, BLOCKED, PRIVATE (which all his calls had come in as).

He then called my home phone (hoping, probably, to get my daughter again). Unfortunately, for him, he hit a roadblock.  He got my son this time and tried to get info from him.  My son immediately put him on hold and summoned my husband (a sheriff).  My husband was less than pleasant with him, yelled at him, threatening legal action and hung up on the guy. 

End of story, right?  Sorry, this guy is persistent.

That was Friday afternoon.  Phone was quiet on Saturday and Sunday.

Monday morning, 7:15 AM, phone rang.  I picked up, thinking it was one of the kids or friend (what other person would call at that hour)?  It was the sweepstakes caller again!  He was agitated and saying that he wanted to deliver the package, and that I needed to work with him and just verify the information he had.

I very fakely in the most pleasant voice I could muster said, "may I have your company name and phone number, please?"  He said he could not give that to me.  I said, "Why should I give you my information if you won't give me yours?"  Again, he was argumentative and this time DID have my correct name and address (which was a bit alarming).  However, I did say "no, you have the wrong information."  Then, my pleasant tone left and I firmly said, "I told you that I would call the police if you phoned me again.  So what I want you to do is this.  Please hang up, and call me back in about 10 minutes.  At that time, I will begin a trace on your call, okay?"  He then said, "well, ma'am, I think we must have the wrong number."  I said "that is correct, you do."  I hung up....I THINK that is the end of this? 

This was very much a harrassment situation, probably 12+ phone calls in all.  It has made me order reports of our credit and other pertinent info.  My daughter has taken to making our house Fort Knox when she is home, now, knowing this company has our correct address.  This was a very brazen individual. 

The only comfort I find is knowing that I am not alone in this.  I also feel badly for people who are not so "rude" (I think that is what he called me) and believe that his claims are true.