WATERVILLE, Maine — Waterville police are alerting the public to be aware of scams after an 84-year-old woman received a phone call last week from a man claiming to be from the National Gaming Association.
According to Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey, the man told the victim she had won a multimillion-dollar prize, and all she had to do to claim it was purchase a prepaid debit card.
The victim subsequently purchased two debit cards totaling $700, Rumsey said, but prior to calling the suspect back, a family friend realized what had been happening and contacted police.
While a Waterville police detective was at the residence investigating, the man called back and attempted to entice the woman to provide him with the account information on the card, which would’ve provided him with access to funds for online purchases, Rumsey explained.
Despite the fact that police intervened, the scammers have continued to call and harass the victim, and investigative efforts have revealed the calls coming to the woman’s house were from outside the United States, Rumsey said.
In this case, the callers have been two men with strong Middle Eastern accents, Rumsey said, and additional calls to the victim have shown the suspects are engaging in a practice called “spoofing,” in which a caller uses a computer to alter the number displayed on a victim’s caller ID.
“In this case, the number displayed was the victim’s own home number, that can occasionally trick victims into answering the phone when they otherwise would not,” Rumsey said.
Waterville police are encouraging all residents to be aware that no legitimate sweepstakes or lottery would require a winner to have to spend money to claim winnings, Rumsey said.
