SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A Sioux Falls woman was bilked out of $900 by scammers claiming to be with Publisher's Clearing House.
Officer Sam Clemens says the 73-year-old victim was told to wire the money to pay for fees so a car and cash could be sent to her.
Clemens says initially the caller told her to send $600 which she did. They called back and asked her to send $1,000. She balked at the second request and the caller told her that $300 would work and she again wired the money
Clemens say the woman suspected she may have been the victim of a scam and called Publisher's Clearing House who told her that they weren't involved. Then she called police
Clemens says phone scams are difficult to solve. They are almost untraceable and often originate overseas.
He says red flags in these scams include unsolicited phone calls and you shouldn't have to pay fees to claim prizes.
He says scammers bank on victims sending money repeatedly, because it's never enough and the prizes never arrive.