WATERVILLE — Waterville police are warning that scam artists using computers to alter the caller ID that appears on intended victims’ phones are preying on elderly people by pretending to represent an entity they call the “National Gaming Commission.”

Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey said an 84-year-old woman received a call this week from a man who told her she had won a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes, then convinced her to buy two prepaid debit cards for $700 to claim the prize.

While a police detective was interviewing the woman, the scammer called again and tried to get the woman to give him account information that would have enabled him to steal the money on the card.

The detective intervened at the time but the scammer has continued to call, Rumsey said.

The caller is using a technique called “spoofing,” in which a computer is used to created a fake caller ID that appears on the victim’s phone, often looking legitimate.

Police say residents should be aware that no legitimate contest would require a person to spend money to claim a prize.


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