Lottery Scam Costs Senior $26,000

HOUSTON - A elderly Houston widow, who can least afford it, is out tens of thousands of dollars because she believed she had won sweepstakes and lotteries or free gifts. The crooks convinced her that to get her winnings, she had to send them a fee.

Our viewer was too embarrassed to give us her name, but she wanted to tell her story.

But before we could sit down for a chat, the phone began ringing...and ringing. In 15 minutes she got five phone calls. One was from a lady claiming she was just trying to help our viewer get her sweepstakes prize.

Another was someone wanting her to wire the tax money to get the Jamaican Lottery allegedly she just won.

Our viewer told us she truly believed she just won three million dollars and a Mercedes Benz from a sweepstakes call. But she seemed confused as to how much she sent them.

"So dern much I don't know how much it is"

Barbara Mc Ginity from the Better Business Bureau Education Foundation helped us go through dozens of wire transfers our viewer made over the past several months.

Our viewer took cash advances from one of her five credit cards then made a wire transfer to various address in Jamaica.

McGinity estimates Jean sent more than $31,000 dollars to the crooks.

"She's been doing this for years," Mcginity says.

Mc Ginnity says that when Jean responded to one offer, she opened herself up to hundreds more. The crooks knew how to take advantage of the loneliness and gullibility of an old woman. She explained why she did it.

"I thought I was going to get so much money so then I don't have to work."

McGinnity offers this advice:

"Never pay money to get money, I don't care what they tell you about, fees taxes."

And never pick up the phone unless you know who it is.

McGinity says the BBB will try to help,her consolidate her dept and educate her on how to manage her resources.