An 85-year-old Coconut Creek woman was told she had won millions and a Mercedes and sent two checks to alleged scammers in Washington state. Her 64-year-old son flew from Boston after learning she planned a noon in-person meeting and, with his wife’s call to police, helped stop further payments. Coconut Creek officers found the woman at a pottery class and prevented additional losses. Authorities urge people not to pay upfront fees and to report fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Son Flies In to Stop Prize Scam: 85-Year-Old Nearly Loses Thousands After Caller Promised Millions and a Mercedes
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An 85-year-old woman in Coconut Creek, Florida, was targeted by a prize scam and told she had won millions of dollars and a Mercedes. By the time her family realized what was happening, police say she had already mailed two checks to people believed to be scammers in Washington state.
The woman’s 64-year-old son, who lives in Massachusetts and asked not to be identified, flew from Boston after he learned his mother was scheduled to meet someone in person at noon. "I got really concerned because she had told my sister that she was meeting someone on Tuesday at noon, so I decided to hop on a plane," he told Local 10. His wife also called Coconut Creek police as events unfolded.
According to police and family accounts, the caller first told the woman she had won $7 million and a car. The family later learned the caller had inflated the prize to $72 million plus a Mercedes. Alarmed by withdrawals from her accounts, relatives discovered the woman had already mailed two checks to alleged scammers — one for $2,500 and another for $1,000 — before they intervened.
The son followed his mother to make sure she did not return to the bank. When he arrived in South Florida she was reportedly surprised to see him. "We did deal with a little bit of embarrassment and a little bit of forgetfulness," he told the station. Fearing she might send additional funds, his wife had contacted Coconut Creek police.
Officers located the woman at a pottery class on Friday and prevented her from handing over more money, Coconut Creek Police Department Detective Clint Corey said. "In this particular case, the elderly resident had already completed a series of financial transactions when her family discovered that she was getting ready to pass more money," Corey told Local 10.
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"Just don’t answer the phone -- force the caller to leave a message," Detective Corey advised. "And then you can decide how you want to respond, and you can keep more money in your pocket at the end of the day."
The son added that calls from the number tied to the scam continued even after family members and police intervened: "There continue to be multiple calls on a daily basis from the number associated with the scamming," he said.
Official Warnings and Next Steps
Federal authorities and consumer groups warn that legitimate prizes do not require upfront payments. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that any caller demanding money for taxes, shipping, handling, processing fees, customs duties, or other charges before releasing a prize is using a common prize-scam tactic. Scammers may pressure victims to act quickly and ask for payments that are hard to reverse, such as wire transfers, payment apps, gift cards, cash, or cryptocurrency.
AARP issues the same warning for sweepstakes and lottery scams: genuine prizes should not require advance fees, transportation costs, gift cards, bank details, or other payments before collection.
If you or someone you know has already sent money to a prize caller, report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, contact local law enforcement, and call your bank immediately if checks, account numbers, or personal information were shared.
Why this matters: Scammers often target older adults with fake prize calls. Quick action by family and police in this case prevented further losses; sharing stories like this can help others pause before handing over money.
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