CENTRALIA — Centralia police are warning area residents of a phone scam claiming you have won money from a clearing house.

(Credit: fordzolo)
(Credit: fordzolo)

According to a press release from Police Chief Doug Krutsinger, his department has received several reports from people saying they were called and told they won hundreds of thousands of dollars from Publishers Clearing House.

The victims, are then told in order to receive their prize they must insure it. Various amounts have been asked for to insure the prize money ranging from a few hundred to several thousands of dollars.

Unfortunately, says Krutsinger, some residents have fallen victim to the scam. He reminds residents to never send money to anyone for a prize because it’s a scam, and never give out any personal information such as bank accounts, social security numbers, etc, over the phone.