A former television news anchor in Hawaii said she lost nearly $60,000 after scammers convinced her she had won a $5.5 million Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes prize. Linda Coble, 79, said the fraud began in March when she received a phone call from a man claiming to be a US Customs official named 'Mike Diamond'.

Coble, who became Hawaii's first female television news anchor in 1971, spoke to Hawaii News, sharing her ordeal. Before receiving the money, however, she was asked to complete several financial steps, including payments linked to taxes and processing fees.

Coble said the caller contacted her almost every day over several weeks. According to her account, the man became friendly and reassuring during their conversations. Another woman, identifying herself as 'Gail O'Brien' also contacted her and repeatedly vouched for the caller's legitimacy.

Coble said she also receivedletters and emails from people claiming to represent the IRS and the US Marshals Office.

'I trusted them,' she told Hawaii News Now. She said the callers instructed her to keep the process a secret so the prize announcement would remain a surprise. The former anchor admitted she did not verify the identities of the people contacting her.

During the scam, Coble received what appeared to be a cashier's cheque for $5.5 million. She said the cheque made the prize appear genuine and convinced her the money would eventually be released through the Bank of Hawaii.

Over time, she sent cheques and money orders to cover what the callers described as taxes and fees connected to the winnings. Coble told Hawaii News Now that the scammers maintained constant communication throughout the process.

'I was overwhelmed with kindness, support, encouragement, excitement constantly from the scammers,' she said. She also said the embarrassment stopped her from discussing the situation with others earlier.

'And I didn't realize that I had already made such a mistake,' Coble said. 'And I was embarrassed to tell anybody.'

Coble said she eventually withdrew money from retirement accounts and cancelled investments in order to continue making payments. 'And I had to take my IRA out of my account and put it in the bank,' she said. 'I had to cancel my Prudential and put all that money in the bank, money I had saved and earned. And now it's gone.'

Source: International Business Times UK