Mass. woman charged in NC Publishers Clearing House scam

A Massachusetts woman is being charged in connection with an alleged Publishers Clearing House impersonation scam that authorities say bilked a North Carolina man out of roughly $500,000.

An arrest warrant for Sabrina Johnson, of Marlborough, was issued on Dec. 22, and she was taken into custody on Dec. 31, according to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. She is currently awaiting extradition.

Investigators said the victim, a resident of Ocean Isle Beach, was contacted in early 2025 by individuals claiming to represent Publisher’s Clearing House. The callers allegedly told the man he had won $4 million and a Mercedes-Benz, then instructed him to pay supposed IRS and FDIC fees to claim the prize, according to officials.

Authorities said the man liquidated his retirement and investment accounts and sent roughly $500,000 in checks and gift cards to out-of-state organizations as a result of the scam.

Investigators said that about $215,000 of the money was sent to an entity called BTW Enterprises LLC. The sheriff’s office said the company was linked to suspicious financial activity and had ties to previously investigated fraud cases.

Officials also confirmed that at least one additional victim outside of North Carolina has been identified in connection with the investigation.

In a Facebook post, the officials warned the public about similar scams, saying “Legitimate prize organizations and financial institutions do not require payment of fees, gift cards, or wire transfers to claim winnings or resolve investigations.”

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.