In the last few days, a quick-thinking Boggs Township resident avoided a phone scam that could have cost him hundreds of dollars.

Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi said the would-be victim remembered the valuable old saying: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Dan Lynch did not fall for the ruse when he got a call informing him that he had won the $7.5 million Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes and a new car. All he had to do was send the company $325 on his debit card to cover expenses associated with the award, the caller told him.

“I told the caller I would do that,” Lynch said. “Instead, I contacted the district attorney's office.”

Lynch was put in touch with Paul Rearick, chief county detective.

“The guy who called Lynch said he was in New York state, but the phone number was traced to Minnesota. In all likelihood, however, the caller was in a foreign country,” Rearick said. “These guys have technology that can make virtually any phone number show up on your caller ID. They usually call from another country, making it impossible to go after them.”

Andreassi cautioned never to send money to get a prize and to never give out personal information such as bank account or Social Security numbers over the phone. He said legitimate companies never ask for money in order to get a prize.

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