The Paris PD are warning of a telephone scam involving a New York telephone number and a claim of a Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes.
A woman informed the Paris Police that she received a phone call where the caller told her she won $875,000 and a new car. She was given a claim number and told a state trooper would escort be arriving at her house with a company representative. The caller also told her to call 315-704-3518. When eParisExtra.com called this number, there was a recording claiming to be the Publishers Clearing House claim department.
In another scam in Northeast Texas, thieves have been claiming to work for Oncor have been gaining access into homes and burglarizing the homes or scamming customers to give them money. Oncor has released a statement on their website which reads:
No Oncor employee will ever stop by your home to collect a payment or contact you by phone to request credit card information.
“It should be a red flag to customers if someone contacts them by phone or in person requesting payment,” said Oncor Director of Corporate Security Jim Stockton. “You can call Oncor (888.313.6862) to confirm an employee’s identity, but if you fear for your safety, call 911 immediately. Do not let a stranger into your house or go anywhere with them. We take imposters very seriously and will work in tandem with local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute anyone who violates the law and the public’s trust. Oncor representatives do not need to enter your home for any reason, especially not to perform work. If someone claims to work for Oncor and tries to enter your home, do not let them in. Call 911 if you fear for your safety. ”
A good rule of thumb is to always confirm a person’s identity whether on the phone or at your door. Never give credit card or personal information or any type of payment to someone who contacts you without verifying their identity.