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Redwood Falls, Minn. —
Redwood County and all surrounding counties and community residents who may have attended the 2011 Farmfest event on Aug. 2, 3, and 4 are being advised of a potential scam reported to the sheriff’s departments of Redwood, Cottonwood, Brown, and Watonwan County.
Those who attended Farmfest, and registered at one of the yet to be identified vendors booths for contests, giveaways, and door prize drawings may be receiving phone calls informing them they have been selected as the winner of a vacation prize package.
The Farmfest group is working with the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office in an attempt to identify which vendor’s booth the registration for the vacations originated from.
Farmfest has a policy that forbids any vacation packages from being given out as door prizes. A general location has been identified, and Farmfest is reviewing photos to narrow the search for the vendor.
The scam works this way:
The victim will receive a phone call, with the victim being referred by name.
The caller will be very excited and informs the victim that the registration slip they entered at Farmfest has been drawn, and they nave been selected as winner for a vacation package.
At first, the victim is informed they have won a week’s stay at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and some time at Daytona Beach.
The trip includes a hotel stay, and a rental car.
As the conversation continues, the victim is informed to ensure they are able to secure their hotel accommodations and reserve a spot for the vacation, they need to give the caller their credit card number, and a fee of approximately $399.
If the victim is reluctant, the caller has in certain calls dropped the price needed by $100.
At least one victim was also informed they had won a “bonus” vacation of an additional week trip to Las Vegas, on the condition the victim provide their own transportation and other expenses.
If the victim is reluctant and requests literature, the caller has become belligerent with the victim, and quite rude, as indicated by several reports.
The caller has promised to send literature to some. However, the victims were required to give the caller their credit card number immediately at the time of the call.
The caller was very aggressive, and demanded the victim make their decision at the time of the call.
The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that they should always exercise caution whenever they are requested to give their credit card information to someone over the phone or Internet. If you are the winner of a prize, you should not be required to pay with your credit card.
With all the reports received by the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office, there has not been anyone who has given the caller their credit card number, so there have not been any victims who have lost money at this time.
Redwood County and all surrounding counties and community residents who may have attended the 2011 Farmfest event on Aug. 2, 3, and 4 are being advised of a potential scam reported to the sheriff’s departments of Redwood, Cottonwood, Brown, and Watonwan County.
Those who attended Farmfest, and registered at one of the yet to be identified vendors booths for contests, giveaways, and door prize drawings may be receiving phone calls informing them they have been selected as the winner of a vacation prize package.
The Farmfest group is working with the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office in an attempt to identify which vendor’s booth the registration for the vacations originated from.
Farmfest has a policy that forbids any vacation packages from being given out as door prizes. A general location has been identified, and Farmfest is reviewing photos to narrow the search for the vendor.
The scam works this way:
The victim will receive a phone call, with the victim being referred by name.
The caller will be very excited and informs the victim that the registration slip they entered at Farmfest has been drawn, and they nave been selected as winner for a vacation package.
At first, the victim is informed they have won a week’s stay at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and some time at Daytona Beach.
The trip includes a hotel stay, and a rental car.
As the conversation continues, the victim is informed to ensure they are able to secure their hotel accommodations and reserve a spot for the vacation, they need to give the caller their credit card number, and a fee of approximately $399.
If the victim is reluctant, the caller has in certain calls dropped the price needed by $100.
At least one victim was also informed they had won a “bonus” vacation of an additional week trip to Las Vegas, on the condition the victim provide their own transportation and other expenses.
If the victim is reluctant and requests literature, the caller has become belligerent with the victim, and quite rude, as indicated by several reports.
The caller has promised to send literature to some. However, the victims were required to give the caller their credit card number immediately at the time of the call.
The caller was very aggressive, and demanded the victim make their decision at the time of the call.
The Redwood County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that they should always exercise caution whenever they are requested to give their credit card information to someone over the phone or Internet. If you are the winner of a prize, you should not be required to pay with your credit card.
With all the reports received by the Redwood County Sheriff’s Office, there has not been anyone who has given the caller their credit card number, so there have not been any victims who have lost money at this time.
