OXNARD : Police Warn of Car Prize Scam

It sounds like a good deal: a brand new car for $500.

But Oxnard police are warning consumers not to fall for what they say is an illegal scam.

Detective Len Newcomb said three or four people have telephoned his office this week asking about calls they received informing them that they had just won a new car. The catch, he said, is that the residents were asked to pay half the sales tax and license fees, about $500, to ensure delivery of the car.

Newcomb said the offer was very tempting to some city residents, though he knew of no one who had sent in the money. According to the detective, one woman said, “I really want this car. This is a brand-new Mustang.”

The calls seem to be confined to Oxnard, police said. The operators of the scheme have left phone numbers in Houston, but are probably using call-forwarding to cover their trail, police said.

Police said it is illegal to require anyone to pay for any part of a prize they have won.