202-506-9163

I have had these and similar scam artists calling for the past month periodically. Obviously whenever they have to have money sent to them before delivering the prize, it is a scam...what I have done quite often and if I have the time, I play along with them sometimes acting quite stupid and having them repeat the information they are giving me. I had one talked down to wiring them just 30USD instead of the69.99 they originally wanted. I probably had them on the phone for 45 minutes. My thinking is that if they are talking to me and I know they aren't going to get anything from me, then it stands to reason that they are unable to be talking to someone else that may think it is real....also it gets pretty comical to see how frustrated they get with their accents and broken English trying ti explain to me how to go to Walmart Western Union office to send the money....'do you mean the customer service counter on the western side of the store?'....Only fun if I have the time, but I still figure it is keeping them from talking to other people.

Prize Offers: You Don’t Have to Pay to Play!
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel17.shtm

excerpt from FTC CONSUMER ALERT
A Dozen Ways to Protect Yourself
The next time you get a "personal" letter or telephone call telling you "it’s your lucky day," the Federal Trade Commission encourages you to remember that:

1. Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay or buy something to enter or improve your chances of winning, or to pay "taxes" or "shipping and handling charges" to get your prize.


If you have to pay to receive your "prize," it’s not a prize at all.

Prize Offers: You Don’t Have to Pay to Play!
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel17.shtm

excerpt from FTC CONSUMER ALERT
A Dozen Ways to Protect Yourself
The next time you get a "personal" letter or telephone call telling you "it’s your lucky day," the Federal Trade Commission encourages you to remember that:

1. Legitimate sweepstakes don’t require you to pay or buy something to enter or improve your chances of winning, or to pay "taxes" or "shipping and handling charges" to get your prize.


If you have to pay to receive your "prize," it’s not a prize at all.