Man Suspicious Of ‘Radio Contest’

A caller who claimed to be running a promotion for a new local radio station had a simple task for Phillip Cummings: name three living U.S. presidents and he’d win $1,558 worth of prizes from Spokane Valley businesses.

Cummings obliged and rattled off three names. All that was left for him to do last Thursday evening was claim the prize.

For a small courier’s fee, Cummings was told, the station would send the prizes to his home. He could even use his credit card to pay the fee, the caller said.

“He was very well rehearsed in this,” Cummings said Tuesday. “Even the background noise … it gave you the impression that he was sitting in an (advertising) agency with other people talking on a phone.”

But Cummings was becoming suspicious, and offered to pick up the prize himself. The caller told Cummings picking up the prize was against the rules.

Similar requests by Cummings to get the caller’s name, phone number and address also were denied, said sheriff’s deputy David Reagan.

Eventually convinced the caller was not associated with a radio station but instead was simply a con man trying to get his credit card number, Cummings hung up the phone.

“He went on (about) all these same-as-cash gift certificates for all these Valley stores,” Cummings said. “What he wanted was my credit card number to put the courier service on.”

Sheriff’s fraud investigators said Cummings did the right thing by asking for a phone number where he could call the man back.

“If you believe the contest may be legitimate, call the organization represented to confirm its participation before paying out any money,” Reagan said.

Anyone who believes they have been victimized by a similar scheme should call Crime Check at 456-2233.

, DataTimes