Man warns public of lottery phone scam artists

BALTIMORE -  

The callers claimed to be border patrol, FBI, homeland security, federal reserve, and other bank workers.

They all wanted money.

Norman Breidenbaugh says the calls started coming in for his wife Cindy.

“She said send him the money and I sent him the money and that was the beginning,” Norman Breidenbaugh said.

The promises were grand, anywhere from $200,000 to $25 million.

Just send us a little money first they said.

When Cindy's health failed he did anything he could to try and take care of her.

"When she was in the hospital, well if you send us the money then we can send you the sweepstakes and you can have the money to bring her home and bring in help,” Breidenbaugh said.

Cindy's health got worse.

Despite all of Norman's efforts, he couldn't save her.

“Right after the Super Bowl was over, I was trying to talk to her a little bit and she took a couple deep breaths and that was it,” said Breidenbaugh.

The calls didn’t stop there.

“They keep coming back at you and using these different tactics,” Breidenbaugh said.

It took years for Norman to realize the truth.

He spoke tonight at the Augsburg Lutheran Home telling his story.

He says no matter how embarrassing it may seem, he doesn't want this to happen to anyone else.

“If they get a call from someone wanting money, hang that phone up right now,” Breidenbaugh said.