HSCO And FBI Arrest Man Behind Million Dollar Scam

A scam that has been targeting the elderly is now making headlines after affecting seniors in Hamblen County. Hamblen County Sheriff Chad Mullins says his office and the Johnson City office of the FBI recently conducted a sting operation in Hamblen County to attempt to stop an international criminal enterprise.

According to Sheriff Mullins, in this scam, victims are contacted and informed that they have won a sweepstakes with all kinds of prizes including lareg amounts of money. However, the victim is told that they need to withdraw cash from their financial institution to pay the taxes and fees on those winnings. A person claiming to be from Publisher’s Clearing House then goes to the victim’s home and retrieves the money. Of course the victim has won nothing and is now out thousands of dollars.

Recently, the sheriff’s office and the FBI arrested 48 year old Samuel Bobby Campbell. Mullins says that Campbell is actually from outside the US, but flew into East Tennessee to go to a victim’s home in Hamblen County and retrieve cash from the scam, $75,000. Campbell was met by the Hamblen County Sheriff’s office and FBI agents when he arrived at the victim’s home and is now charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wife Fraud. Mullins says that Campbell is now under investigation for other multi-million dollar scams around the country.

Sheriff Mullins reminds residents that if you or a family member is notified that you’ve won any amount of money, you should do your research. Mullins says “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”