An Arizona grandmother found herself in a tough financial situation when she received a phone call claiming she had won a big prize. Believing her luck had finally turned around, she was excited for what was to come.
The caller, representing the “American Dream Sweepstakes,” informed her that she had been entered into the contest by donating to various charities. However, upon investigating, Scripps News Phoenix discovered that the company was not legitimate.
Eighty-nine-year-old Tillie was overjoyed thinking she had won over a million dollars, planning to use the money to buy houses for her grandchildren. She was given a claim number for a $750,000 check, with taxes already deducted.
But there was a catch – she was asked to pay $1,000 in court fees to receive the prize, supposedly to help the attorney deliver the check to her. Despite her suspicions, Tillie wanted to confirm the legitimacy of the contest.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the American Dream Sweepstakes was a scam, with no valid address or listing for the supposed law firm representing them. Scammers often use familiar names to appear trustworthy, but it’s essential to verify independently.
Tillie’s family, struggling with financial difficulties, had hoped the prize money would provide some relief. Thankfully, she did not fall for the scam and shared the warning signs to identify prize scams.
If you believe you’ve been a victim of a sweepstakes scam, report it here.
This story was originally published by Christel Bell at Scripps News Phoenix.
