Phony U.S. Customs Duties

As if the publishers' sweepstakes themselves weren't bad enough, they've provided fertile ground for lots of opportunistic small-time swindlers, like the one below.

Randy of Chico, TX, writes: (3/29/01): "Inspector Jim Mclaughlin" called me stating he was from US Customs. He said I had won $285,000 from Publishers Clearinghouse and I would need to pay the Canadian duties for him to release it tommorow on Federal Express. He had a lot ofinfo on me -- military, etc. I needed to wire $22850 U.S. to an attorney to get the dues paid. He provided an address in Montreal that I was to said the money to.

Fortunately, Randy didn't send the money.

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