LOCAL PHONE SCAM IN PROGRESS
The Hillsborough County Sheriff has issued a warning to residents.
BEWARE! Scammers are pretending to be from the Publishers Clearinghouse. Residents have been receiving phone calls from the “Publishers Clearinghouse Prize Team”. They claim the resident has won millions of dollars and a new Mercedes Benz. They will attempt to convince the resident to pay various fees and or taxes prior to getting their winnings. The “team” may ask the resident for thousands of dollars to be deposited into banks, cash to be sent in the mail or even purchasing of gift cards. They stress to their victim to not tell friends or relatives because it might jeopardize their total winnings.
This scam was first reported in Sun City Center.
REMEMBER, if you have to pay money in any form to win more money or prizes; IT IS A SCAM! If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. You always have time to verify, do not let the “TEAM” bully you to act NOW! If the “TEAM” insists that you need to pay now you can bet it is a SCAM so end the telephone conversation immediately and hang up.
Notify the Sheriff at the non-emergency number, 813-247-8200, to report the SCAM call. Then, notify your Buckhorn HOA at www.buckhorn.us with all the details.
BE VIGILENT, BE CURIOUS, BE SUSPICIOUS AND ACT ON YOUR OBSERVATIONS IMMEDIATELY!