CALGARY- What started as a phoney lottery prize call has turned into a case of harassment for an elderly Calgary couple.
Three weeks ago, Jim Baker got a call from someone saying he’d won the Global Lottery. But to get his prize he’d have to send them money for taxes, and when Baker refused they sent him cheques to cash and told him to wire the money to a U.S. bank.
Despite not cashing any cheques, Baker has been continuously harassed with phone calls all day long.
“Sometimes five or more times a day. I bet you there have been times he’s called me six, seven, eight times in a day,” Baker complains.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says it appears the scam initially targeted U.S. residents, but is now making its way to Canada.
“These are always international lotteries, and we know those are illegal so we can’t win them legally in Canada, so hang up,” suggests Sandra Crozier-McKee from the BBB. “The more you engage with them, the more they are going to harass you.”
Those who are getting repeat phone calls should contact their phone company and ask them to block the number.
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