The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

December 7, 2007

‘You’ve just won a new car’ — Not

Local car dealer warns public about scam

By Amelia A. Pridemore

Management at a Raleigh County car dealership is warning residents who were told they won a free car that the news definitely is too good to be true.

Beginning Friday morning, Hometown Subaru-Kia in Prosperity received four or five calls from Raleigh County residents who said they received telephone calls informing them they had won free new Kias, said Eddie Williams, sales manager for the dealership. These people were told to bring two forms of identification and proof of vehicle insurance and pick up their new cars at their local Kia dealership. Another man showed up, believing he would be picking up a free new car.

The dealership is “absolutely not” involved with this, and management had no knowledge of it until it received phone calls, Williams said.

“We want the public to know this is a scam,” Williams said.

The female caller identifies herself as “Bethany Lucas,” Williams said. Whether this is the woman’s real name is unknown. The caller not only tells people they have won new cars, but she also knows people’s addresses and spouses’ names. The number shows up as “restricted” on Caller ID.

“It sounds legit,” Williams said.

To his knowledge, the woman calling the residents in such locations as Beckley and Glen Daniel has not asked anyone for personal information. However, Williams advised anyone receiving such a call not to give any personal information such as a Social Security number.

“We want people to, please, be careful with personal information,” he said. “Something like this could take a toll on their credit. It takes your whole life to build good credit, and it takes one hour to ruin it.

“Please be careful. A slick scamster could ruin it.”

Some people who were called by this woman have not purchased a car in a long time. One woman had not purchased a car in seven or eight years, Williams said.

The dealership has filed a police report with the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, Williams said.

— E-mail:

apridemore@register-herald.com

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