A local elderly man was bilked out of $4,000 in a sweepstakes scam and Roanoke Rapids police are warning people to be wary of hucksters in the wake of the Oklahoma tornado.

Captain Andy Jackson said a man received a sweepstakes check in the mail for $250,000. To claim the prize the man had to send $4,000, a sum purportedly to cover taxes.

The man sent $4,000 in cash in a box and when he went to cash the sweepstakes check was told it was no good.

The envelope was postmarked New Jersey but the man couldn’t remember the name of the sweepstakes company.

“Quite often these people set up small shops along the Canadian border and just as quick as they move in, they move out when they collect a sum of money,” Jackson said.

Meanwhile, Jackson said local people need to be wary of telemarketers trying to cash in on the Oklahoma tornado disaster.

“We haven’t had any yet, we’re just on the heels of it. People take advantage of storms like this and people have to deal with pushy telemarketers. If you get an unsolicited email or text message they could be fishing.”

Jackson advised never give credit card or bank account information on the phone. “I would always turn down high pressure appeals.”

Numerous Oklahoma and national news websites have information on how to help the victims. This is a link to one of them.