A Eureka woman lost $44,000 to a mail scam involving Publishers Clearing House that indicated she had to pay the taxes on a $3.3 million prize. The woman had been paying the scam artist since the start of the year, Eureka Police reported.
Officers were notified of the scam on Dec. 1. The 70-year-old Eureka woman said she received a letter that appeared to be from Publishers Clearing House near the start of the year that said she won $3,386,000, the report said.
The letter also said the woman would not be able to collect her winnings until she paid the $67,700 in taxes on the prize money. She said she continued to receive letters throughout the year insisting she pay the taxes on the prize, according to the report.
Investigators reviewed the letters the woman received and determined the paperwork was fraudulent, the report said.
As of Monday, Dec. 18, none of the woman’s money had been recovered, and no suspects had been identified, Capt. Michael Werges said. He asks anyone who may have received fraudulent letters appearing to be from Publishers Clearing House to call Eureka Police at 636-938-6600.