Man loses $2,700 in scam BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE- A 45-year-old Iselin man was scammed out of $2,700 after he was told he won a Merchant Bank Sweepstakes. The victim received a phone call and was advised that he had just won the Merchant Bank Sweepstakes for $250,000 and he needed to forward $750 to receive his winnings. On Feb. 27, he sent $750 through Western Union to Jamaica. Another call was made later that day, and the victim was told that they had made a mistake and that he had actually won $2.5 million and he needed to send another $1,950. The victim told the caller that he could not afford to send any more money. The caller called the victim two days later and said if he could send $1,000, then the caller would put in the extra $950 for him. The victim again told the caller that he could not afford it. Then on March 10, the victim received a call from a man stating that he was the supervisor for the sweepstakes, and said the caller who told the victim that she would put in the extra $950 for him was suspended. The supervisor told the victim that they still needed $1,000 from him if he wanted his winnings. The victim sent $1,000 via Western Union to Jamaica. On March 17, the victim received another phone call stating that he would receive his winnings, but had to pay the balance of $950 to get his money, so the victim sent the $950 via Western Union. The victim received a call with a confirmation number and was told that he would receive his check by that night, but he never received it. The victim attempted to call the number back four times. Police informed the victim that since the callers are in Jamaica and that is where he sent the money, there is not much that can be done to get his money returned to him. The victim requested that the detective bureau look into the matter anyway.