Fake attorney swindles Troy woman out of $669K in sweepstakes scam

TROY, Mich. – A woman said she was swindled out of $669,500 in a Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes in Troy.

The incident occurred on Sunday (March 17) when the woman said she was contacted by mail, notifying her that she had won the sweepstakes and that to claim the prize, an attorney was assigned to her case.

Officials say the fake attorney retrieved payment over several months, claiming that the payments he was having her make were to secure her winnings and pay storage fees for the vehicle she had supposedly won.

Update: Troy woman loses more than $600K in Publishers Clearing House scam

Officials said the woman told a friend what was happening and advised her to contact police as she believed she was being scammed.

Anyone with information should contact the Troy Police Department at 248-524-3477 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.

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