INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Shirley Parr loves using Facebook to share and find new recipes. However, one day while surfing Facebook, a friend sold the 76-year-old on a sweepstakes, where she could walk away with a $150,000.

Parr entered the online drawing, and won. She received messages from someone through her Facebook inbox, identifying themselves as the manager over the claim process. In the message, the unknown person informed Shirley she would need to wire $1000 to get the prize.

Parr wired the money, despite being discouraged by her granddaughter.

“My granddaughter tried to tell me the whole time she was taking me over to the bank, ‘don’t do this Grandmother.’ I wouldn’t listen to her,” said Parr.

Days passed and Parr received no money. She waited a little more, and still there was no cash. When Parr messaged those allegedly responsible for operating the contest, she was told UPS stopped the delivery, and that she needed to send $3000 to get her cash windfall.

“She wanted another $3000. Are you nuts? I don’t think so,” said Parr.

She then called 9-1-1. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department filed a report, but there is no information on who is responsible.

Parr later determined her friend’s Facebook page had been hacked, and that is why Parr received information under her friend’s profile about the scam.

The Indiana Attorney General listed the following to protect yourself from a Sweepstakes scam:

  • NEVER PAY TO ENTER A SWEEPSTAKES. Legitimate sweepstakes promoters do not require you to pay or buy something in order to enter.
  • Realize that buying a product will not improve your chances of winning.
  • Read the fine print. If you think the large print says you’ve won, the fine print probably tells you that you haven’t. If you’re guaranteed to win a cash award or other prize, it’s also guaranteed that there are strings attached.
  • If the solicitation arrives by bulk mail, you probably haven’t won a big prize. Bulk mailings only guarantee that thousands of people are receiving the same mail piece you received.
  • If the solicitation resembles a government document or is “urgent,” throw it away. The government is not in the direct mail sweepstakes business, and “urgent” mailings are designed to make you think they are more important than they really are.
  • Avoid foreign lottery mailings. Unless you previously purchased a foreign lottery ticket, there is no reason to believe you may win, have won, or should pool your money with others to win a foreign lottery.
  • Entering sweepstakes in a public place guarantees you will receive more sweepstakes solicitations in the mail. The personal information you provide on entry forms in malls, places of business, flea markets, etc. is often sold to third parties for placement on sweepstakes mailing lists.
  • Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.