Police report phone scam

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department says a county resident has reported receiving a suspicious phone call.

The resident said the phone caller stated they were with the Publisher Clearing House Sweepstakes committee and they were notifying the resident they had won a 60-inch plasma television. The caller said the resident would have to pay $189 in taxes and shipping before the TV set could be shipped to them.

The Sheriff's Department says the call was a scam--Publishers Clearing House does not charge people shipping and taxes for prizes they award to participants. The scammer is hoping that someone who sends in a small amount of cash will then be willing to give them a credit card number to cover some other fee. Concludes the Sheriff's Department, "If you receive a call and they are asking for personal information, credit card information or money for a prize or sweepstakes winnings, be aware that this probably is a scam.