Humboldt woman says she lost $1K in free-money scheme

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. — A concerned WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News viewer reached out to us convinced she’s become a victim of a free-money scheme.

Veronica Dickson wants to warn others not to do the same.

On Monday afternoon, Dickson and her daughter spent the afternoon at a Humboldt city park. She said money concerns are weighing heavy on her mind.

“I’m on a fixed income. I draw disability for the month and put my whole check up hoping and praying I would get that money so I could pay off other bills,” she said.

Dickson said she received a phone call Thursday afternoon from a man names Winston. Winston said Dickson was eligible for a $10,000 government grant. All she had to do is purchase more than $1,100 in iTunes gift cards.

“I had to scratch off the back of the cards and give him the 16-digit number on the back of the cards,” she said.

Dickson claims Winston told her within 30 minutes the deposit would be in her account, tax free.

Four days later, not even the iTunes gift cards work.

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News decided to call Winston on the number he left with Dickson. Initially no one answered, but a voice recording claimed we had contacted the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

After leaving a voicemail, a number with a New Jersey area code returned our call and put us in touch with the man believed to be Winston.

During the conversation, Winston said qualifying individuals were eligible for the grants. “It’s just free money the government is distributing this year. That’s the reason your number has been nominated and you’re getting it,” a man believed to be Winston said.

Despite calling Winston, he claimed we had been chosen for the grant. All we had to do was turn in $270 in iTunes gift cards.

Investigators say legally there isn’t much they can do in these cases. Dickson said she’s in jeopardy of having her utilities cut off with the loss of the $1,150.

Officers encourage residents to be cautious because the schemers often are making so many calls a day they begin to pick up on what to say to persuade people.

“He made it sound so real,” Dickson said.

A Google search yielded a completely different number for the actual Federal Reserve Bank of New York. When we called the bank, an automated recording answered and provided a slew of options including how to report fraud.