Pair Bilks Woman Out of Her Jewelry
Ventura County sheriff’s deputies want help in identifying two women who used a lottery scam to steal more than $6,000 in diamonds and gold from a Moorpark resident.
The women, described as being in their 40s and 50s, approached Maria Barrera shortly after noon Friday and told her they could not cash in their $72,000 lottery ticket because they were not legal residents of the United States.
They asked Barrera to cash the ticket for them in exchange for a portion of the winnings, and demanded she give them cash or jewelry as a sign of good faith. Barrera agreed, gave them a diamond ring, a gold ring and a gold necklace as collateral, and drove them to the lottery office.
When Barrera dropped the women off at an agreed-upon meeting place, the women raced across the street, jumped into an older, blue four-door sedan and sped off.
“It’s a common scam,” said Sheriff’s Det. Ron Helus. According to California Lottery officials, nonresidents can collect on winning lottery tickets.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers. In the Thousand Oaks/Moorpark area, call 494-TALK. In Camarillo, Oxnard and Port Hueneme, call 987-TALK. Callers remain anonymous, and can earn up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
