SCAM ALERT: 93-year-old Knoxville woman loses $190,000 to lottery scammers
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Knoxville, Tennessee:–It’s a cautionary tale you should know so you can be extra careful around Christmas.
A woman in her 90’s was duped by a ring of scammers. And for five years Saturia was deceived into believing she had won the international Mega Millions jackpot.
The scammer's convincing words cost her dearly.
Over those years she sent almost $190,000 to various fraudsters, believing each payment brought her closer to a $187 million jackpot.
TONY BINKLEY
“He [the scammer] told me I had won $187 million. I will have to pay the insurance. I will have to pay the fees,” said Saturia.
“I didn’t buy any tickets. I only registered,” she told Tennessee TV news station WATE.
“I received a card, a four-by-six card, that said ‘Would you like to become a millionaire?’”
“All you have to do is sign your name, pay $50 and you register, then [get] Mega Millions,” she said.
Saturia's story is one of the most expensive fraud cases reported by news station WATE.
She had never actually played the Mega Millions but was tricked by a simple registration card inviting her to become a millionaire for a $50 fee.
RELATED: What seniors can do to avoid lottery and internet scams
This led to regular calls demanding more money for insurance and fees, convincing her that it was all part of a rare international event.
Tony Binkley, President of the Better Business Bureau, noted that Saturia's case was the most significant loss he had seen.
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There are several reasons why seniors will fall for scams that tell them they won the lottery.
A lottery scam may be a colorful banner or popup on a website saying they are the millionth visitor.
Or it might be an email that says they won a contest.
In many cases the scammer will ask for personal and banking information to send the winnings to them. Instead, their savings are stolen.
“They believe this stuff because these scammers are so good at what they do,” said Binkley.
Binkley emphasized the importance of consulting a trusted third party in such situations.
Saturia, now 93, with no family and having lost her husband a decade ago, faced this ordeal alone.
She has since lost her house and car to these scams and now lives with friends, struggling to afford basic needs.
Saturia's experience is a harsh reminder of the reality of lottery scams.
The promise of a big win can blind the best of us. It's a cautionary tale urging everyone to stay alert. Seek advice before believing in too-good-to-be-true promises.
Beware of emails claiming you've won a lottery prize, especially if you never entered the draw.
It's crucial to ask yourself key questions:
Did I enter their draw?
Did I pay to play their game?
Does the email look too official?
If you answered 'no' to any of these, take these steps:
Don't reply or engage with the email. Delete it immediately.
Ignore any phone numbers they provide. These are often traps.
Never share personal or financial information, including bank details, social security numbers, or ID.
Remember, even anti-scam websites might be scams. Your best action is to do nothing and stay safe.
ABOUT: WATE is a television station based in Knoxville, Tennessee. As an ABC-affiliated station, WATE provides news, weather, sports, and entertainment content for its viewers. It's known for its local news coverage, including investigative reporting and community-focused stories.
