The number of ways in which unscrupulous people try to part others, especially seniors, from their money are legion. However, a new wrinkle has appeared in a recent scam, one that could end up with someone losing even more than their money.

Rachelle Corneliuson of Kimberley says her father-in-law was contacted on this scam this week and she was disturbed enough to call the police and want to warn others as well.

Corneliuson says that she and her husband have talked to her father-in-law about scams and told him to always write down the phone number that calls him.

"This was the second time this number had called him," she said. "They said they were calling from Publisher's Clearing House and that he had won $2.68 million. The first time they called they asked him to send $375 to claim his prize."

He didn't bite that time, just wrote the number down. But the next time they called, the scam had turned in a more sinister direction.

"They called and offered to meet him at the Wal Mart in Cranbrook and usher him across the border, to ease his way to collect the prize," Corneliuson said.

Did her father-in-law know it was a scam?

Yes and no, she says.

"He was excited about it, but he did come to ask us. I said if they are asking for money, it's a scam. My concern is, what were they planning on doing with him? Were they going to beat him up and take all his money?"

She says they mentioned the Cranbrook Wal Mart specifically, so they were doing their research though the call originated in Jamaica.

She did call the police, but they are unable to do anything to prevent someone from meeting someone.

All they can do is caution that if someone is asking you for money or personal information, assume it is a scam.

Corneliuson also phoned PhoneBuster to report the scam. Phone Busters connects you to the federal government anti-fraud site, which puts out alerts on various phone scams. Their phone number is 1-888-495-8501 or go to www.phonebusters.com