GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — For a few hours, Patrick Crumback thought he was one of the lucky few chosen by Publishers Clearing House for a grand prize.

“You get all excited thinking you're going to be a winner,” said Crumback.

On Tuesday, Crumback said he got a call from a man claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House. The caller told him he was in the area and ready to deliver his prize, but there were conditions.

“I need $1,000 in Amazon gift cards,” said Crumback. “And I go, why? He goes, well, you gotta make sure you're a real person.”

Crumback said he went to Meijer, with the caller still on the phone, and bought $1,000 worth of Amazon gift cards. He said the man told him to lie to both his wife and even the cashier.

“He said, peel off the backs, take a photo of them, send them

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