Cherokee County residents need to be aware of an old scam making the rounds yet again and this time – the crooks are claiming to be associated with the Publishers’ Clearing House Sweepstakes giveaway.

We’ve had several reports from area residents – saying that they’ve received calls from someone, telling them they’ve won a prize through the Publishers’ Clearing House; the prizes listed ranged from cash to cars.

In each case the caller was described as having a “foreign” accent – and in every case – the caller tells the intended victim, that before they can collect their “prize”, they must pay a processing fee – or a tax – or some other phony fee – which is what it all comes down to.

Some residents were asked to send $1,700 – others, $900 – and in some cases, as little as $200, if that’s all they could afford.

After settling on the amount, the caller tells the target to go to Wal-Mart – and purchase a “Green Dot” in that amount – and then call them back and give them the number on that card so they can collect the “fee” before sending out the non-existent winnings.

One scammer even went so far as to assure the person that they were talking to that this was real, and to prove it, they could call a telephone number – provided by the con-artist – and speak to Ed McMahon himself.

Of course, the fact that Ed McMahon passed away in 2009, means nothing to the scammer – who couldn’t be bothered to do much research before-hand.

Remember, if you didn’t enter – you can’t win; and besides, Publishers’ Clearing House – or any other legitimate organization – simply doesn’t work that way.

If you have to pay for something before you can get your prize, you’re being ripped-off.

The bottom line is this – it’s a scam/it’s a scam/it’s a scam.

If you get a call such as this hang up and forget about it.