SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — An elderly South San Francisco resident lost more than $12,000 to a telephone scam over the past several months, police reported Tuesday.

In November 2013, the victim was called by an individual claiming to be an agent for the Department of Homeland Security, according to police.

The phone scammer told the victim that he had won $2 million and a Mercedez Benz in a lottery, and that he needed to send money in order to claim the prize, police said.

Over the next several months, the victim sent checks and prepaid credit cards worth between $12,000 and $14,000 to an address in Davie, Fla.

The victim recently realized he had been defrauded and reported the case to South San Francisco police.

The only description of the caller was that he was male with an unidentifiable accent.

Residents are reminded to be suspicious of callers asking for financial payments to claim winnings, and to report such calls to police.

Anyone with information regarding cases of elder fraud is urged to contact South San Francisco police at (650) 877-8900.

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