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MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office said a man has been arrested in connection to an “international criminal enterprise” that targeted elderly residents.
Sheriff Chad Mullins said the scam centers around a victim being told they won a Publishers Clearing House contest and must pay taxes in cash before receiving the prize.
The victim is contacted by phone that they are the contest winner, but in order to receive their prize it is necessary to pay taxes on the winnings in advance and in cash,” Mullins said. “The victim is instructed to make cash withdrawals, take a photo of the cash and then put it in an envelope or small box. At that point, someone who identifies as a representative of Publishers Clearing House will go to the victim’s home and retrieve the money.”
In this situation, 48-year-old Samuel Bobby Campbell was the so-called representative who tried to get $75,000 from a resident last week. However, Mullins said instead of being met with cash, he was met by the sheriff’s office and the FBI.
Mullins said Campbell, who is from another country, flew from a northern state to Tennessee to make the transaction. Additionally, he is under investigation for other multi-million dollar scams around the country.
“The people involved in these international criminal enterprises aren’t playing around,” Mullins said. “The fact they would actually fly someone in from another state and go directly to the victim’s home shows they mean business.”
Mullins said Hamblen County residents have been bilked out of more than $1 million under the assumption that they are winners of the Publishers Clearing House contest.
There were multiple subjects targeted in this year-long scam, and only after one man finally reached out to law enforcement were we notified of what was happening,” Mullins said.
Mullins also encouraged residents to do their research if they encounter a situation like this, saying common sense often goes out the window when people are told they won a substantial amount of money.
“If you or a family member are notified that you’ve won any amount of money, I encourage you to do your research,” Mullins added. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Campbell is being held at the Hamblen County Jail.
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