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2 Con Artists Stole $18K in Lottery Ticket Scam Since March, Police Say

By Ben Fractenberg | October 16, 2014 6:08pm
Lottery Scam Suspects
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NYPD

MANHATTAN — A pair of thieves used a confidence scam to steal more than $18,000 in money and jewelry from nine different women in Manhattan and Brooklyn since March, according to the NYPD.

One of the alleged grifters would approach a victim, tell them they have a winning lottery ticket  which they said was worth $10 million in at least one of the incidents  but cannot cash it in because they are undocumented. The other suspect, sometimes carrying a Bible, would then approach and claim to know a lawyer who could help.

The duo then convinced their victim to pay for the lawyer in exchange for splitting the winnings from the lottery ticket, police added.

They first struck on March 14, scamming a 49-year-old woman out of $450 after approaching her in Brooklyn at Arlington and Miller avenues, according to the NYPD.

Then in April they scammed two different people in Harlem out of more than $2,000 each, police added.

The following month they allegedly robbed three more people, including a 74-year-old woman out of $1,514 after approaching her on Smith Street in Cobble Hill on May 30.

On June 26 they conned an 81-year-old woman out of $6,000 in cash and $3,600 in jewelry on 104th Street near Broadway, according to the NYPD.

Finally in August they scammed two more upper Manhattan women in their 60s out of more than $2,888 in money and jewelry.

Another couple swindled $8,000 from a Bushwick woman in October in a similar lottery ticket scam, but a police spokesman said the NYPD does not believe they are connected.

The male suspect is in his 50s about 5 feet, 3 inches tall with a slim build and well dressed.

The female suspect is in her 40s or 50s, between 4 feet, 5 inches and 5 feet, 3 inches tall and wearing a wig.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES), then entering “TIP577.”