Police Say Elderly Couple Conned out of Thousands of Dollars

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Police say an elderly couple was allegedly conned out of more than $10,000 in yet another phony sweepstakes scam. It all started when a phone call came from a “Mr. Miller,” according to police.

Police responded to the 300 block of Wildwood Street on January 16 to investigate a report of a deceptive practice. A couple in their 80s reported that on January 9, the wife received a phone call from the subject who identified himself as “Mr. Miller from The Winners International Gold Rush,” according to police. The resident was informed that she had won $2 million. Later in the conversation, Miller changed the dollar amount and told the victim that she had won $5 million and in order to claim her prize, she needed to send $354.99 to a woman in Mirarar, Florida. She was told that the money was intended to cover an import fee for the money.

A short time later, the victim said she received a second phone call from Miller who told her to send an additional $237.99 to the same person at the same location, again to cover fees. She said she continued to receive phone calls directing her to send money to Jamaica and Miami, Florida. All in all, she sent monies totaling approximately $10,022.96.

The victim stated that she then received a phone call from a person who identified himself as “Pete Myers of the IRS.” She was told there was a person en route to her home with a check for her and her husband and when he arrived at her house, he was to accompany them to their bank, at which time he would assist them in depositing the check into their checking account. The victim stated that Myers informed her that the subject was bringing her and her husband a check for over $5 million. The victim stated she became suspicious because Myers refused to have the check left at the Park Forest Police Department for her and her husband to pick up so she called the police to report the theft.

Police continue to investigate.