Lottery Scheme Takes Latinas for Thousands

Sheriff’s investigators said Monday they are seeking three people suspected of stealing thousands of dollars in a long-running lottery scam that targets Latinas.

In recent years, the three have taken amounts ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 from victims by promising them million-dollar winnings on lottery tickets, said Jim Amormino, spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Typically, he said, one of the suspects will approach a person on the street and ask for directions or engage in small talk. The suspect, usually a woman, will say she has won the lottery but is unable to claim the prize because she is an illegal immigrant. She will offer to sell the ticket to the victim and propose sharing the winnings, Amormino said. Often an accomplice helps to persuade the victim to participate, he said.

“There have been at least 25 cases in the last couple of years,” Amormino said. “A lot of people [fall] for this.”

One of the male suspects is described as 5 feet 8, between 50 and 60, with a stocky build. He has black hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.

The other male suspect is described as 5 feet 5, between 35 and 40 with dark curly hair. Investigators gave no description of the female suspect.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with information about the scam to call Julie Kearns at (714) 647-7031.