Phone scam reported

SANDPOINT — Bonner County sheriff’s officials are warning of another scam making its rounds through the community.

A resident reported receiving a phone call this week from a person calling himself John, who claimed he represented Publishers Clearing House. John advised the resident that he had won the sweepstakes and just needed a little more information in order to collect a $1 million prize.

The resident was then passed on John’s purported supervisor, who indicated that the taxes must be paid on the windfall before it’s disbursed. The resident was directed to draft a $2,500 check made payable to an individual in Warren, Mich.

Sheriff’s officials point out that Publishers Clearing House does not utilize such a method to contact winners of its sweepstakes.

Moreover, the person making the call had an 876 telephone area code, which is in Jamaica. That area code is reportedly commonly used in scams announcing lottery winnings, apparently because it resembles a toll-free number.

Sheriff’s officials are reminding resident never to send money to someone in exchange for something they supposedly won.