Herald staff
BOTHELL — If a caller claims that you’ve won the Australian British Lottery, it probably isn’t true.
Yet, that’s just what a Bothell-area resident was told when he answered his phone Wednesday, and again Thursday, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen said.
The caller identified herself as "Simone Warner" and told the victim he had won a $2.5 million lottery. All he had to do was wire $1,000 to an address in Jamaica, ostensibly to cover "taxes, courier service and other expenses" associated with giving him the prize.
The victim refused to send the money and called police.
The lottery offer is a scam, Jorgensen warned. The caller’s real goal was to collect $1,000 from as many people as possible.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office advises citizens to refuse to send cash or give a credit card number to anyone who calls about this or any other pitch. Ask the caller to mail information about the offer or prize.
If you suspect a scam, call the state Attorney General’s Office at 800-551-4636, or contact police.
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