An 85-year-old South Florida woman believed a prize caller had life-changing news: millions of dollars and a Mercedes were supposedly waiting for her.
By the time her family realized what was happening, police said she had already sent two checks to alleged scammers in Washington state. Then the family learned the contact had not stopped. According to Local 10, the woman was expected to meet someone with cash.
Her 64-year-old son, who lives in Massachusetts and did not want to be identified, flew from Boston to South Florida after hearing that his mother was supposed to meet someone at noon.
“I got really concerned because she had told my sister that she was meeting someone on Tuesday at noon, so I decided to hop on a plane,” he told Local 10. “And concurrent to that, my wife called the Coconut Creek police.”
The Prize Call Promised Millions and a Car
The woman lives in Coconut Creek, Florida. In an earlier Local 10 report, police said she received a call claiming she had won a prize.
“I was supposed to get $7 million and a car,” the woman told officers, according to the station.
Police said her family contacted them after she sent two checks to alleged scammers in Washington state. One check was for $2,500. The other was for $1,000.
In the family follow-up, her son said his mother believed the promised prize was even larger.
“She said it was $7 million, but it was actually $72 million and a Mercedes car,” he told Local 10.
Her Family Saw Withdrawals, Then Heard About a Noon Meeting
The woman’s family grew alarmed after seeing withdrawals, then learned she was planning to meet someone with cash, Local 10 reported.
Her son said he followed his mother to make sure she was not going back to the bank. When he arrived in South Florida, he said she was surprised to see him.
“We did deal with a little bit of embarrassment and a little bit of forgetfulness,” he told the station.
His wife had already called Coconut Creek police. Officers were told the woman might be preparing to send more money.
Police Reached Her Before More Money Went Out
Local 10 reported that officers found the woman at a pottery class on Friday and stopped her before she could send more money to suspected scammers.
“In this particular case, the elderly resident had already completed a series of financial transactions when her family discovered that she was getting ready to pass more money,” Coconut Creek Police Department Detective Clint Corey told the station.
Corey said residents should not rush to answer unknown calls.
“Just don’t answer the phone — force the caller to leave a message,” he said. “And then you can decide how you want to respond, and you can keep more money in your pocket at the end of the day.”
The Calls Kept Coming After the Checks
The woman’s son said the number tied to the scam continued calling his mother after the family and police intervened.
“There continue to be multiple calls on a daily basis from the number associated with the scamming,” he told Local 10.
The FTC says real prizes are free. A caller who demands money for taxes, shipping, handling, processing fees, customs duties, or other charges before releasing a prize is using a common prize-scam tactic.
The agency also warns that fake prize callers may pressure people to act quickly or demand payments that are hard to reverse, including wire transfers, payment apps, gift cards, cash, or cryptocurrency.
AARP gives the same core warning for sweepstakes and lottery scams: a real cash prize or car prize should not require upfront fees, taxes, transportation costs, gift cards, or bank information before collection.
Her Son Wanted Other Families to Recognize the Pattern
The family said they wanted the woman’s story shared so another person might stop before sending money.
Anyone who has already paid a prize caller can report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, contact local police, and call the bank immediately if checks, account information, or personal details were involved.