Sweepstakes

A Film by Stephen Williams

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT, “SWEEPSTAKES”

My stepmother passed away in Dec 2022. She was 96 and had suffered from dementia for many years. Mostly undiagnosed. During the last fifteen years of her life, she sent thousands and thousands of dollars to scams and fake “sweepstakes”. The family didn’t know what was going on—some were convinced that she had a gambling addiction, her behavior totally uncharacteristic of the bright person she was.

The truth was that she was suffering from mental disease which made her a prime target for fraudsters—she couldn’t distinguish truth from fiction. These unscrupulous individuals posed as her “friends”, promising her big money and expensive cars, and she fell for it.

My stepmother’s story is all too common in today’s world. It’s everywhere, yet it still flies under the radar. I made this film to highlight this very poignant situation, with the hope of reducing/stopping this fraud and bringing fraudsters to justice.

Stephen Williams

Meet the Cast

Meet the Crew

Festivals

B e s t F i l m :

Indo Dubai International Film Festival

TMMF - The Monthly Film Festival

F i n a l i s t :

Fotofilm International Short Film Festival

Sweden Film Awards

S e m i F i n a l i s t :

Best Short Fest

H o n o r a b l e M e n t i o n :

Rolling Ideas

Kolkata International Filmfare Awards

2025 ARFF Amsterdam // International Film Festival

Q u a r t e r F i n a l i s t :

Tennessee International Indie Film Festival Edition 9

S e l e c t e d :

Imbibe Cinema

Goa Short Film Festival

Mumba International Film Festival

Dam Short Film Festival

European Short Awards

Indian Independent Film Festival

Elder Fraud is real. According to the FBI, it is estimated in the United States alone, about $3.4 billion is lost to scammers through elder fraud per year. 

In 2023, according to the FTC, Americans lost over $10 billion to fraud; this figure is probably low, given that only 52% of older adults share that they have been victimized.

Key points about senior scams:

Common tactics:

- Scammers often use pressure tactics, emotional appeals, and fake authority to gain trust and exploit vulnerabilities. 

Types of scams:

- Grandparent scams: Pretending to be a grandchild in crisis, requesting immediate financial assistance. 

- Government impersonation scams: Claiming to be from an agency like the IRS or Social Security, threatening legal action unless payment is made. 

- Tech support scams: Offering to fix computer problems for a fee, often gaining remote access to the computer. 

- Romance scams: Developing an online relationship to gain trust and then asking for money. 

- Sweepstakes scams: Notifying a senior they’ve won a prize, but requiring payment to claim it. 

What to do if you suspect a scam:

- Never give out personal information readily (like bank details or Social Security numbers). 

- Verify the identity of the caller: before taking action, especially if they are claiming to be from a government agency. 

- Consult with a trusted family member or friend before making any financial decisions. 

- Report the scam to the appropriate authorities: like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the National Elder Fraud Hotline.

 Contact us.

  • Stephen Williams

    +1 (801) 750-0165

    sjwill113@gmail.com

  • Dayle Linford

    +1 (801) 645-2650

    daynelinford@gmail.com

  • wildstonefilms@gmail.com

  • 1060 Princeton Avenue,

    Salt Lake City, UT 84105

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Upcoming events.

Sweepstakes ended on a cliffhanger… so how do we remedy that when so many audiences want more? We make another piece! Sweepstakes Part 2 is on its way, shooting will take place in May and June!