Lubbock Family Targeted By Phone Scam, Speaks Out to Warn Others

"I knew right off the bat there was just something wrong," said Donna Ham.

Gary and Donna Ham received a call from winners international telling them their daughter had won 1.7 million dollars.

Donna Ham said, "Well how did she win this 1.7 million dollars? And he told me the first time it was because she paid her utilities on time which she never paid utilities."

They didn't fall for the scam, but they're afraid others will.

"I looked them up on the internet and found a website where probably 50 or 60 people had been contacted by these folks and several of them actually fell for them and sent them the money and of course got nothing back," said Gary Ham.

LPD Sergeant Jonathan Stewart says this isn't the first time he's seen this type of scam in Lubbock.

"It seems to be something that is pretty wide spread and Lubbock is not immune from that. This is a type of scam that has been around for awhile and we have seen quite a bit of; and it could originate through phone calls, texts, mail all sorts of sources so it is something to be very cautious about," said Stewart.

Sergeant Stewart says two red flags that it is a scam are: if you have to deposit money to get the prize or if you won a contest you never entered.

He said, "If it sounds too good to be true than it probably is."

The Hams hope their story can serve as a warning for anyone targeted in a phone scam.  

"Maybe somebody will see this and then not pay attention to it," said Gary Ham.

The Hams blocked the numbers from their phone and haven't had any problems with the solicitor since. Sergeant Stewart says repeated calling is a form of harassment and if that happens to you, you should call police.