Lyon County investigates phone scan

YERINGTON -- The Lyon County Sheriff's Department is investigating a telephone scam in which an elderly woman was bilked out of several thousand dollars by a caller who told her she won $200,000 in a Canadian lottery.

According to the sheriff's department the telephone fraud has been connected to neighboring states and Canada.

The caller generally preys on the elderly and gains their confidence, the sheriff's department said. A person claiming to represent the Canadian lottery contacted the Mason Valley resident and told her she won $200,000, but she needed to send a few thousand dollars via Western Union to complete the transaction.

She complied and the caller recontacted her for more money. No check was ever delivered to her and the sheriff's office was contacted.

Officials declined to say how much the woman lost.

Sheriff's Sgt. Pat Soukup said similar reports were filed in several states and all have been traced to Canada and overseas islands.

Canadian officials said they are investigating numerous complaints.

Officials warned residents to be wary of telephone solicitations where a caller requests money before a prize is awarded. People are asked to call Lyon County Sheriff's Department at (775) 463-6620 or their local law enforcement agency if they have received similar calls.