TOMAHAWK, WI (WSAU) — An alert bank teller saved an elderly Tomahawk man from becoming the 3rd victim of a scam in three weeks.
Sheriff’s officials say he was contacted by scammers claiming he had won a Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes but needed to send $3,500 to process the winnings.
When he went to withdraw the money from the bank the teller became suspicious and alerted the man’s family. A deputy then went to the man’s home to investigate and was able to keep him from sending the money.
While the deputy was with the man, the scammers called back with further instructions for sending the cash. When the deputy took the phone and identified himself, the scammers hung up.
The next day the man reported that the scammers called back asking for the money to be paid in gift cards instead of wired.
RELATED: Two Tomahawk residents taken for thousands in phone scams
Earlier in November, two Tomahawk residents lost a combined $6,500 by sending Home Depot gift cards to scammers who claimed the victims had family members in distress.
