Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

 
Don’t you dream of hearing the doorbell ring and someone’s at the front door with a big old check? But they aren’t always legitimate. There are ways you can shut down the crooks before they crack your bank account.

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
“They were telling me that I was the winner on Publishers Clearing House.”

Mary Wileman admits she was elated when the voice on the phone said she won 2.5 million dollars and a new Mercedes.

Mary Wileman, Scam Victim: “To receive this prize, you’re going to have to pay the taxes, which amounts to four hundred ninety-nine dollars and twenty-five cents ($499.25), so you need to go to the bank.”

They said she needed to go immediately; time was of the essence for her to get this money to them so that they could deliver her prizes.

So Wileman and her husband go to a local grocery store with a Western Union.

Mary Wileman, Scam Victim: “I hand her the cash and tell her I want to send it to this person. She looks at me and she says, ‘I don’t think you want to do this.’

No, I didn’t want to do it. I was doing it anyway.”

Wileman insisted the $500 was sent. Then she was told she would need to send $5,000 more to pay for the insurance on the car.

Mary Wileman, Scam Victim: “I knew all along this is crazy and yet I could not control what I was doing. It was like they had a spell on me that I could not break.”

Wileman sent cash via Express Mail, but when she left, she says she had a sinking feeling.

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 

Wileman called Publishers Clearing House directly and learned this was all a fraud.

She called police and her postmaster, trying to track her package with the cash inside.

As opposed to so many other sweepstakes victims, Wileman got good news.

Mary Wileman, Scam Victim: “He hands me my envelope. I have never cried so hard in my life. But he says, ‘Open it and count it.’

My $5,950 was in there.

I was never so grateful for anything in my life because I could not believe, at that point, the fool I had made of myself by believing these lies.”

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 

Postal inspectors say Wileman got caught up and fell prey to the sense of urgency they create.

Daniel Senchesak, US Postal Inspector: “Anybody who wants to send it Express is lying to you — and it’s an attempt to steal your money and do it in a way that you’re not gonna be able to recover it.”

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 

Postal inspectors want to warn consumers that no legitimate lottery will ever ask for money upfront in order to collect a prize.

With this News 2 I-Team consumer alert, I’m consumer investigator Libby Holland.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

 
 

Questions

 
Fraud, Cheat. According to the reporter, everyone wishes to have peace of mind. True or false?

Steal, Theft. Did robbers come to Mary Wileman’s home and demanded that she hand over (give them) $2.5 million and her car?

Lie, Deceive. All that she had to do was shop up in the sweepstakes and collect her check. Is this right or wrong?

Dishonest. Did Mary procrastinate or put off doing what she was instructed to do? Did her husband disagree and argue with her?

Treachery. Was the Western Union money wire transfer clerk suspicious? Did she think Mary was a drug dealer or tax evader?

Underhanded. After paying $499.25 in taxes, did she receive her prizes?

Swindle, Rip Off. Was Mary 110% positive that she was going to receive her prize money and Mercedes . . . or did she have a sneaking feeling?

Con, Con Artist. Mary lost all of her money. Is this correct or incorrect?
 
 
 
Slick, Manipulate. Have you received fake or suspicious emails, texts, unsolicited calls or invites?

Fine Print. Do you hear a lot about scams and online frauds on the news and social media?

Honest, Trustworthy. What do your friends and colleagues say?

Clear, Transparent. Who commits cybercrimes, online and phone scams? What drives or motivates them? Who are typical victims?

Open, Clear. What has been the trend in cybercrimes, online and scams and cybersecurity?

Reputable. What might happen in the future?

Integrity, Probity. What could or should people, tech companies and authorities do?