A new scam has targeted Tyler County residents with promises of millions from an entity called Global International Sweepstakes Company.

According to reports, the caller indicates that a multi-million dollar prize has been won and can be claimed after a registration fee has been paid.

Tyler County Sheriff Earl P. Kendle, Jr. urges anyone who receives a phone call of this nature to guard their personal information. “Don’t ever give your personal information – social security number, banking information, or anyhting of that nature – to someone you don’t know over the phone.”

Kendle noted, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!”

According to the Better Business Bureau, Global International is not a BBB accredited company. The following consumer alert was found on the BBB Web site (www.bbb.org):

“This business is conducting a foreign lottery scam. Consumers report to the BBB that they receive calls from representatives of Global International stating that they have won a lottery and/or prize valued from $25,000 to $8.5 Million. In order to collect their winnings consumers are instructed to wire $175 to $499 to pay for administrative fees and insurance. Those consumers who pay the money never recieve the prize. Consumers also report if they decline to wire the funds as instructed, they receive harrassing phone calls from company representatives several times a day.”

“BBB has been unable to verify the location of the company or that it is even a real business. Mail sent to the address on Carson Street in Las Vegas, NV has been returned as undeliverable. The company lists a Las Vegas, NV street address, but provides a Kentucky zip code. The phone numbers for this company originate from the country of Jamaica.”

Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation.

To be accredited by BBB, a business must apply for accreditation and BBB must determine that the business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints.