On July 3rd I received a phone call from Jamaica telling me I was a winner of a big
sweepstakes sponsored by a large American Corporation, and it was this Jamaican
office's responsibility to deliver the prize check to the winner. Since the IRS was
responsible for approving any check in excess of $10,000.00, I had to pay the fee for
the stamp, which was $300.00. I told the lady (Mrs. Marlene Smith), that I didn't have
$300.; she asked if I could send $100, and when their local agents delivered the check
to me, we could all go to my bank and I could deposit it and withdraw $200 and give it
to the agents to fulfill my obligation. I agreed to this. Ms Smith told me I could go to
Western Union and wire it or go to Walmart and send a moneygram. Since Walmart is
much closer than the WU office, I opted for the moneygram. I was told to address it to
Samantha Williams, Montego Bay, Jamaica. Ms Smith asked how long it would take, she
said she would call me back afterward to get the reference number of the moneygram.
I gave her my cell phone number, and at the proper time she did call back and I gave
her the number. Over the next few days, she called several times, always saying that
the check was almost ready, but I needed to help them with an unexpected problem,
another document that needed money to fix, or another fee. Usually $300 was the
magic number, but once it was $500. And the usual trip to Walmart. The people at the
Walmart customer service desk came to recognise me. The last request for money
informed me that the prize check was for $3.5M, and $400,000 in US dollars plus a new
2011 (?) Mercedes Benz, but they would have to have the taxes paid in advance, which
would come to $1,000.00 (?!?) and would I send it right away, please.
At this point I lost all patience and my temper and called them all a bunch of lying
scammers and that they should be ashamed of ripping off old people like me. The calls
that asked me for $500 and $1000 was not made by Ms Smith, but by a man who
identified himself as Frank White, the CEO.
I have all the receipts for the moneygrams, but not for the gasoline or wear-and-tear
on the car.
Now what?
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