Remember: real prizes come with confetti, not invoices.
TAKOMA PARK, Md. — It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book: “Congratulations! You’ve won a prize!” But in Takoma Park, it’s not luck calling. It’s a scam.
The Takoma Park Police Department is warning residents about a recent wave of fraudulent phone calls and emails from individuals claiming to work for the City or Police Department. According to officials, scammers are contacting people (both locally and out of state) with false promises of prizes or sweepstakes winnings. The catch? You have to pay taxes or fees upfront to claim your supposed reward.
In an effort to appear legitimate, some scammers are even attaching fake photos and documents to their messages. But officials say the bottom line is simple: no legitimate prize will ever require you to pay money upfront — especially not over the phone or through email.
Adding to the concern, officials say there has been a noticeable uptick in reports of the long-running Publisher’s Clearing House scam. While the sweepstakes itself is real, Publisher’s Clearing House never notifies winners by phone or email. Just like in their TV commercials, the only way you’ll know you’ve won is with a surprise in-person visit. And most importantly, they never ask you to pay anything.
Police urge the public to be cautious and skeptical of any unexpected prize announcements. If you’re ever unsure about a phone call, email, or message you receive:
Instead, report the scam to the Takoma Park Police Department or the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
For more details on common scams, including the Publisher’s Clearing House fraud, visit: takomaparkmd.gov
