Since January 2011, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has received 13 complaints involving lottery scams, according to PBSO spokeswoman Teri Barbera. Most cases are occurring in the suburban West Palm Beach area.
She said the majority of victims are elderly or of Hispanic ethnicity. Hispanic victims are being approached by strangers in parking lots and asked to help redeem a winning lotto ticket because the stranger is not a U.S. citizen.
The victim is asked to supply “good faith money” and told they will be reimbursed when the ticket is cashed.
Another scenario involves elderly victims being contacted by telephone. The con-artist will tell the victim they have won a prize (lottery/sweepstakes) and should send money to cover the taxes. In three recent cases the caller asked that the money to be sent to Jamaica.
Barbera said anyone approached by a stranger asking for money to help cash in a winning lottery ticket should immediately call the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at 561-688-3400.
