Description

I received a call from someone who identified herself as Betty Pray. She said she had an unclaimed prize for me from her company, Reader's Digest, and that they had sent a certified letter to me but received no response. When I told her she could just resend the certified check, she said there was no time. This was the first red flag.

She asked me to write down some information:

• Betty Pray, Reader's Digest

• 101 Winner's Circle, Jericho, NY 11053

• Phone: 443-332-8785

• Badge #2929 US

• $3.5 million via certified check

• $10,000 per week for life

• 2025 pearl white Mercedes-Benz

• $750,000 life insurance policy from Prudential Life

She then asked if I was computer literate and if I could print something out. I gave her my email address. She asked what company I worked for, my husband’s occupation, my age, and whether I had dependents at home. She said she needed this information to fill out a “P99” for the IRS to report prize winnings over $100,000. I intentionally gave vague answers, not the kind of detail needed for an IRS form. I later looked up IRS forms and found that a P99 does not exist. This was the second red flag.

Once she verified that I had received her email, she asked me to open the attachment. I know attachments from an unverified source are dangerous, and she was very persistent in wanting me to open it while she was on the phone. This was the third red flag. I pretended not to know what to do and told her I would have to wait for my husband to help when he got home. She told me I needed to return the call before 7:30 p.m.

I asked her if this was a scam, and she said that was up to me if I didn’t want to be rich. After hanging up, I called Reader’s Digest. They informed me there were no outstanding prize contests and confirmed it was a scam.

I then called the number back and was told by an automated system to state my name. It was recognized by Google Voice, and I was connected to Betty Pray again. I told her, “Shame on you,” and that she needed to find an honest way to make a living. She seemed unprepared to respond.