MILLION.
>>
>> NEXT
>> NEXT THEY CALLED AND SAID IT WAS A MISTAKE.
THEY WILL NOT WIN THE 500,000.
HAVING A CRIMINAL RECORD AND
THEY CAN'T WIN.
>> THE CALLER SAID THEY WON A
POPULAR MAGAZINE CONTEST, WHICH
THEY ENTERED MANUALLY.
SHE HAS LAW-ENFORCEMENT
EXPERIENCE, AND HAD NO REASON TO
BELIEVE SHE WAS BEING SCAMMED.
>> THEY REALLY PLAY WITH YOUR
MIND.
MIND.
MIND. SHE
MIND. SHE SAID IT ALMOST FELT LIKE SHE
WAS HYPNOTIZED BECAUSE SHE LOST
ALL OF HER OBJECTIVITY.
WHEN THE CALLER TOLD HER SHE
NEEDED TO SEND MONEY TO PAY FOR
PROCESSING, SHE DRAINED HER
SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
SAVINGS ACCOUNT. THEN CAME ANOTHER CALL.
THE CHECK WAS READY, BUT NOT
RELEASED UNTIL FEDERAL TAXES
WERE PAID.
WERE PAID. SHE TOLD THE CALLER SHE AND HER
HUSBAND WERE BROKE.
>> WE DON'T HAVE IT, TAKE LOANS
AGAINST CREDIT CARDS.
THEN WE TAKE LOANS AGAINST
CREDIT CARDS.
CREDIT CARDS. REPORTER: THEY MAXED OUT
MULTIPLE CREDIT CARDS.
>> IT IS LIKE A GAME.
YOU PAY THE BILL, AND PAY THE
BILL.
BILL.
BILL. AS
BILL. AS LONG AS YOU PAY IT, YOU GET
IT.
IT.
IT. THAT
IT. THAT IS ALL YOU BEGIN TO THINK
ABOUT.
ABOUT.
ABOUT. REPORTER: THEY QUIETLY CAP
SENDING MONEY.
SENDING MONEY. EVENTUALLY, DRAINING THEIR
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT.
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT. >> HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THEY
GOT TOTAL?
GOT TOTAL? >> MY HUSBAND CALCULATED LAST
NIGHT $84,000.
NIGHT $84,000. REPORTER: THIS IS HAPPENING
EVERY DAY.
EVERY DAY. SCOTT IS THE HEAD OF THE
DISTRIBUTION FOR ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
OFFICE.
OFFICE. HE SAID SHE FELL FOR THE
SWEEPSTAKES SCAM.
SWEEPSTAKES SCAM. SAN DIEGANS ARE SWINDLED OUT OF
MORE THAN $1 MILLION EVERY YEAR.
>> OFTEN, WE SEE PEOPLE THAT
GIVE THEIR LIFE SAVINGS.
IT STARTS WITH A COUPLE OF
HUNDRED DOLLARS, THEN THOUSANDS,
THEN THEY INSTRUCT PEOPLE TO
REVERSE MORTGAGE THEIR ENTIRE
HOUSE.
HOUSE.
HOUSE. IT
HOUSE. IT HAPPENS WITHIN A VERY FAST
PERIOD OF TIME.
REPORTER: THE SCAMMERS CALLED
HER AGAIN WHILE WE WERE AT HER
HOME AND TOLD HER SHE STILL
NEEDED TO SEND ANOTHER $4200.
WHEN SHE SAID INSTEAD SHE WOULD
LIKE HER MONEY REFUNDED, SHE GOT
THIS RESPONSE.
THIS RESPONSE. >> I CANNOT DO ANYTHING.
REPORTER: THIS ORDEAL HAS TAKEN
A TOLL ON THE FAMILY.
HER HUSBAND WAS HOSPITALIZED
WITH A STRESS-RELATED ISSUE.
SHE IS WORRIED SHE IS NOT FAR
BEHIND HIM.
BEHIND HIM. >> BOTH OF US HAVE KIDNEY
PROBLEMS.
PROBLEMS.
PROBLEMS. IF THIS GETS TO BE TOO BAD, IT
CAN FORCE ME ONTO DIALYSIS.
REPORTER: SHE IS HUMILIATED THAT
SHE FELL FOR THIS.
SHE IS SHARING HER PAINFUL STORY
BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT ANYONE
ELSE TO FALL FOR THESE SCAMS.
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN A
VICTIM, GO TO CBS8.COM AND CLICK
ON THE HOT BUTTON.
WE HAVE A LINK TO SOME TIPS AND
DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN FOLLOW TO
SEE IF YOU ARE BEING SCAMMED.
SHE IS SOMEBODY WHO WAS IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
ENFORCEMENT. SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS NO WAY SHE
WOULD FALL FOR IT.
THEY GET YOU AND THEY KNOW WHAT
TO SAY, AND THEY TRICK YOU.
IT IS DEVASTATING.
THEY CALLED HER YESTERDAY AND
SAID "WE CAN CANCEL THIS, BUT
YOU HAVE TO PAY $2500 TO FILE
THE PAPERWORK."
THE PAPERWORK." SHE DID NOT FALL FOR THAT TRICK.
CARLO: I FEEL FOR HER.
THEY ARE CLEVER.
THEY TARGET THE AUDIENCE.
BARBARA-LEE: YOU ARE NEVER GOING
TO BE ASKED FOR MONEY UP FRONT.
KYLE: NONE OF THESE PLACES WILL
CALL