Reports say a phone scam regarding the Mega Millions Jackpot is going around Callaway County.
Callers to the Fulton Sun, who wish to remain anonymous, said that they received multiple calls throughout the day from a man giving his name as Thomas Blair calls claiming to represent the Mega Millions Jackpot and informing the caller they had won a $2.7 million prize. The caller asks for consumers' credit card and bank numbers, and then suggests they take out a bank loan to cover the lottery taxes.
Nanci Gonder, press secretary for the state's Attorney General's office, advised people to take calls with a grain of salt if they seem too good to be true.
"We always tell people to be highly suspicious if they don't place a call and a call comes in to them," said Gonder. "So many times these are scams, and we tell people to never give your financial information or other information."
Gonder said the best course of action is usually just to hang up. Reports can be made to the state's Consumer Protection hotline, 800-392-8222.
Gonder said the office investigates reports of scams, and that believing sweepstakes and lottery scams can be costly.
"Some people had been bilked out of huge amounts of money, and it's very sad when that happens."