SPRINGFIELD -- Publisher's Clearinghouse has recently been accused of misleading sweepstakes promotions. Now, con artists are turning the tables, using Publisher's Clearinghouse’s name in their own scam.

Instead of just telling about the scam, we listened to a scammer’s pitch as she talked to a woman who knew better than to fall for it.

We always say a big clue that you're getting scammed is if you've won money in a contest you never entered. But Carolyn Prine has entered the Publisher's Clearinghouse sweepstakes -- many times. So, when she got a phone call saying she won, there was no reason for her to think she was getting scammed.

“She said, ‘The news I have, you need to be seated,’” said Prine.

The woman on the phone gave her the answer to her prayers.

“She said, ‘There will be a hand delivery of $500,000,’” she said.

But Prine quickly realized her prayers for more money would remain unanswered when the woman, who said she was an attorney representing Publishers Clearinghouse, started asking a few too many questions.

“She started asking banking, checking, savings account, stocks, bonds, monthly expenses,” said Prine.

Luckily, Prine smelled a scam and contacted KY3 News. We went to her home and our cameras were rolling when the scammer called back.

Prine asked a lot of questions. To each one, the woman had answer -- like when Prine asked for the name of the law firm in New York for which she works.

“You're not going to find us registered on the Internet, and the phone number is unregistered,” the woman said.

We did a quick check and, no surprise, the firm is also not listed with the New York secretary of state's office or the New York Bar Association -- a big indication that it doesn't exist.

After 20 minutes of dodging questions and making excuses, the scam was finally unveiled.

“You're required to send in a 10-percent deposit on your taxes initially,” she said.

That deposit could be as much as $24,000. Of course, Prine has no doubt that, if she were to send the deposit, her $500,000 check would never arrive.

“It is just real scary,” she said.

To avoid being scammed:

-- ask specifically which contest you've won, because, if you didn't enter you can't win;

-- never pay money until after you've collected your prize;

-- never give out personal information over the phone, because they don't need it to give you a legitimate prize; and

-- use logic, not emotion.