Incident #: 2102018574
Type: FRAUD-NOT IN PROG
Time Received: 02/19/2021 08:27:34
Status: COMPLETE
Service: POLICE
NLCRPD Patrol District: L86 SECTOR 32 PENN TWP P868
Primary Agency: NORTHERN LANCASTER COUNTY REGIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT
Responsible Unit: P86-8
Location: WOODLOT RD
Municipality: PENN TOWNSHIP
Cross Streets: BUCKNOLL RD/LITITZ RD
Latitude: 40.1289108804796
Longitude: -76.3632290941948

A Penn Township father and son narrowly avoided victimization in an organized fraud scheme that provides victims with the false hope of cashing in on winnings from a large national sweepstakes with large cash prizes. NLCRPD was dispatched to contact a resident in reference to a scam. The reporting party advised that his father was contacted by someone, now known to be a scam, stating that his father had won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.

The reporting party advised that both he and his father initially fell for the scam. The reporting party said his father was given a phone number to call so the reporting party called the number back on his father’s behalf. During this call the reporting party advised that the person whom he talked to, told him that he needed to go get Visa gift cards for $900 and send to the caller for “federal taxes and fees”.

When the reporting party went to a local store but was only able to get a gift card for $450. When the reporting party called the number back to give them the gift card number he determined that the gift card was not activated correctly, and the subject was not able to get access to the money. At this point the reporting party advised that he realized this was a scam. No actual loss of funds took place.