BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (KAKE) - A local man has a warning others after he could have lost $35,000 to a scammer. He says he quickly became suspicious and hopes no one falls for this scheme.

George Liebegott of Belle Plaine says the calls from "this" scammer started coming about two weeks ago. He'd won a big prize and even a car. But there was a catch. Now, he wants to make sure no one gets conned.

"He says, 'Have you got your checkbook handy,'” Liebegott said.

A couple of weeks ago, Liebegott started getting calls. The man on the phone told Liebegott he won $3.5 million and a brand new car. But there was a catch.

"He says, 'Well, I need you to write out a check for 1% of the prize money,'” said Liebegott.

Liebegott was immediately suspicious but played along with the scammer for fun.

"So, I told him, I said, 'I'm having a hard time getting to my checkbook.' I didn't tell him why, because it wasn't making anything up at that time,” said Liebegott.

Also, Liebegott, having a sense of humor, told the scammer he wanted a pickup truck instead of a car. And now he's trying to get rid of him.

"He keeps calling and he's done that since Thursday. He's called me every day. And sometimes I'll sit here and I can see the number coming,” said Liebegott.

We tried calling the number several times, but this is what we got, "Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and dial again."

Liebegott wants to warn others not to fall for it.

"They just pick on the old people. And I know I'm not the only one that has been doing it, because, according to the police chief in town, it's happened to other people in Belle Plaine,” said Liebegott.

Liebegott says he's been in touch with the Belle Plaine police. They told him not to answer the phone, warning him that if he gives the scammers his money, it would be very hard to get it back.