Scammers targeting older adults in fake Publisher's Clearing House lottery

Residents are being warned of a scam purporting to be from Publisher's Clearing House that targets older adults, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said.

Victims are contacted by either mail, email or phone and told that they have won millions of dollars in the Publisher's Clearing House lottery, a news release said. The scammer then asks victims to pay "taxes" and "processing fees" in order to collect the winnings. The scammer will request that the money be paid by wire transfer, gift cards, or an online payment service.

"Please note: Publisher’s Clearing House does not ask anyone to pay any money for taxes or fees, and if you are contacted and asked to pay money, you are being scammed," a Sheriff's Office news release said. "According to Publisher’s Clearing House, the company does not notify winners in advance, they notify winners in person, with balloons, a bouquet of roses, and you are presented with a check. Remember: If you have to pay money to get money, it is a scam."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes Unit at 910-677-5561.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477); by visiting the website at http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org; or by downloading the free "P3 Tips" app for mobile devices.

Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Publisher's Clearing House lottery scam targeting older adults