Sweepstakes scammer. Caller ID for 916-760-8788 says "Vargas, Y". A man identifying himself as "Michael Reese" of the "California Gaming Commission" left two messages trying to reach my father (who was already scammed $70,000 dollars this group.) I had my father's number changed prior to this call, so this scammer is desperate and reaching out through my number.
If you read this in time, protect your loved ones, especially those in retirement. This is a long term scam that makes victims of those close to you. It instructs loved ones to willingly participate in a financially destructive scam and be secretive to friends and family about what they are doing.
The Details:
This is part of a network where you are told you've won sweepstakes money that needs to be delivered to you, but "fees" must to be paid by you for its shipment to your address. The money will reportedly reach checkpoints, but will be 'frozen', 'held up', etc., by various agencies needing clearance.
A team of different people (claiming to be 'agents', 'customs' officials, 'lawyers' 'FBI agents' and 'couriers' to name a few) will systematically call you (from different numbers) asking you to pay 'fees' or 'taxes' upfront for release, but the money will never reach you and will always be stopped once place or another.
They will ask you to withdraw and wire them money, and if you can't do that, they'll have you buy things and ship them off, promising to reimburse you or mail you fake payment checks.
Be wary, they will even send you fake documents to convince you they are legitimate, fake winnings certificates and even IRS forms to sign, but mail back to them.
Protect yourself and do not even talk to them. The longer you are on the phone with these scammers, talking or listening, the more they are able to gain your confidence and cheat you. Protect your loved ones, it's hard to deprogram them if they are involved in this type of scam because it drags them in deep and they are instructed to be secretive about sending money / possessions to the scammers!
United States