Clarksville police help scamming victim recover $20,000

ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A Clarksville man recently fell victim to a Publishers Clearing House scam, but was refunded his money thanks to an officer with the Clarksville Police Department.

According to a news release, the victim was contacted by a scammer with a Jamaican area code and told he had won a $2,500,000 prize through Publishers Clearing House. The scammer later contacted the man via email and asked for $2,500 to “cover IRS fees.” The man sent the money via Money Express and Green Dot money cards.

The victim then took out a loan from his bank for $25,000 to cover what the scammer said was a fee for FDIC insurance. The scammer told the man to wrap the money in calendars and send it to an East Hartford, CT address. The victim followed the instructions and sent $20,000.

A family member of the victim along with Officer Coz Minetos convinced the victim this was a scam, and he immediately tried to contact the post office to cancel the delivery of his package, but was unsuccessful because the office was closed.

Officer Minetos helped the victim recover his money by contacting the East Hartford Police Department for assistance in intercepting the package before it could be delivered to the scammer’s address.

The victim’s money was recovered, but the scammers began calling and threatening him when they did not receive the money.

“Officer Coz Minetos went above and beyond his line of duty to ensure that the $20,000 was returned to the victim. He spent a total of four days while off duty contacting, coordinating, and planning with other agencies so that this victim would not be out any more money, due to this scam,” said Officer Natalie Hall. “The conduct and professionalism that Officer Minetos displayed brings great credit to the Clarksville Police Department and the Clarksville community. Also, special thanks to Officer Todd Phillips and the East Hartford, CT Police Department for their assistance, in this case.”

This scam, with the use of Publishers Clearing House information, has been reported in Clarksville two separate times. The following information includes key indicators from one and/or both reports taken:

1. In both reported cases, the scammers used Publishers Clearing House to make their scam seem legitimate.
2. In both reported cases, a Jamaican area code was used (876).
3. In both reported cases, the victims were told to send the tax fees to an individual named Carlos Williams in California.
4. The victim in one report was asked to send money to claim what he won, which included the use of a Green Dot Card. Most legitimate sweepstakes businesses will not ask the winner to send money to claim a prize. Also, when asked to use a Green Dot Card, be very suspicious that this is a scam.
5. Constant phone calls including threats when money is not sent. A legitimate business will not notify winners by phone and will never threaten its customers.

From Publishers Clearing House Website:

1. PCH will never send a check and ask to cash it and wire or send a portion back
2. PCH does not notify contest winners by phone nor do most legitimate sweepstakes businesses.
3. PCH does not notify contest winners by email nor do most legitimate sweepstakes businesses.
4. Never give your credit card number to collect a prize.
5. Do not send money to claim a sweepstakes prize.