Local News in Brief : Sweepstakes Scam

Telephone con artists posing as officials of the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes have attempted to cheat at least nine South Bay residents out of $300 apiece, police said.

Residents in Torrance, Manhattan Beach and the Lennox area reported receiving calls informing them that they had won cars in the sweepstakes. But the callers also informed them that they would have to pay $300 for taxes and licensing fees before receiving their cars, according to Manhattan Beach police Lt. Steve Caros.

Caros said he did not know how many of the supposed “winners” wired money, as they were instructed, but none of them should have, local police said, because the telephone callers are not affiliated with the nationwide sweepstakes.