“You’ve won the Mississippi lottery,” the voice on the phone said to Betty.

“The state of Mississippi doesn’t have a lottery,” Betty told the caller. “I’m not stupid.”

That’s a real conversation that occurred in a Batesville home last week. Betty’s response was appropriate. The scammer didn’t call Betty back.

The latest version of the “you’ve won…” scheme involves the announcement via a phone call of a lottery win, but with strings attached: the lucky winner must send money to claim the prize.

Several Panola Countians received calls last week “from Las Vegas” that they’d won “the Multi State Lottery.” So reported a man who came in the office last week who said he had gotten the call and so had several of his relatives, all on different cell phones. All of them knew better, too. He reported it to local law enforcement.

But those who perpetrate variations on the old pigeon drop hustle must be having some success or they wouldn’t keep calling.

It’s been suggested that Southerners are favorite targets of such con men because we are generally polite and listen to what they say. It’s good manners.

It’s time for Mississippians to be less hospitable.

A Northeast Mississippi great grandmother has been the victim of the lottery swindle, sending in small amounts at a time, until she’d forked over $500 in “fees.” Her family realized what was happening and stopped it, but the victim had been thoroughly convinced of the authenticity of the “lottery company.”

The bottom line here is that if you win something, it doesn’t cost you anything to claim your prize.

If a caller from Las Vegas tries to convince you otherwise, tell them you’re not stupid.