LAS VEGAS (FOX5) —AARP invited FOX5 anchor and reporter Joe Vigil to appear on its national podcast after his story about a Vietnam veteran who lost his life savings in a scam.
Vigil was a guest on AARP’s “The Perfect Scam” podcast alongside Las Vegas Vietnam veteran Manny Guerrero, Guerrero’s daughter Debbie Splane, and Steve Baker, formerly with the Federal Trade Commission.
How the scam worked
Guerrero said he received a phone call from a man asking whether he had ever played Publishers Clearing House. Scammers told Guerrero he had won a $7.5 million prize and a new car.
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He was then told he had to pay fees to collect his winnings. Guerrero sent checks and made wire transfers before realizing he had been defrauded.
“Manny, in the end, how much was stolen from you?” podcast host Bob Sullivan asked.
“About 180,000,” Guerrero said.
How Vigil connected with Guerrero
Vigil said he first met Guerrero through Honor Flight Southern Nevada, a nonprofit that takes veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials at no cost to the veterans. Guerrero’s daughter, Debbie Splane, later contacted Vigil about her father being scammed.
“I think he was humiliated that something like this could happen to him. He was embarrassed,” Splane said.
How to avoid becoming a victim
Baker offered a straightforward warning.
“If anybody tells you you’ve won a prize and have to pay a nickel for any reason, they’re crooks,” Baker said.
Vigil said adult children should talk directly with their parents about scams.
“Specifically, talk about being scammed and just start asking probing questions. Hey, do you ever get letters? Do you ever get phone calls?” Vigil said.
Sullivan’s closing advice for anyone who receives a suspicious call: just hang up.
Sullivan says anyone who thinks they’ve been scammed can call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.
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