FRAUD ALERT

DENVER, CO - A fraud game that preys on elderly Hispanic citizens has taken in at least 10 victims over the past two months, in a repeat of a scam that plagued law enforcement at this time last year. 

The scam involves claiming of so-called "winning lottery tickets," and elderly people are defrauded of surprising amounts of cash. Over the past two months, a traveling gang of con artists has struck from Pueblo to Loveland and Longmont. Four cases have been reported in Denver, one in Lakewood, two completed frauds and two attempts in Pueblo, and one as far away as Grand Junction. Victims are often approached in the parking lots of large discount stores or discount groceries, and that's been the latest pattern, say police. 

The fraud, known in police circles as a classic con game called the "pigeon drop," involves a con artist who convinces Spanish-speaking elderly that he holds a winning lottery ticket, but is unable to claim it because he is in the country illegally, and asks for assistance in claiming the ticket. The victim is told that the Lottery is requiring "good faith" cash up front to redeem the ticket. 

In fact, the Colorado Lottery does not ever require a "good faith" showing, and confirmation of winning tickets can be conducted at Lottery offices for free. Despite the claim made in the scheme that lottery tickets cannot be held by persons in the country illegally, undocumented immigrants can claim any Lottery jackpot as long as the ticket isn't stolen property. Their winning jackpot check will include deductions at the highest tax rate of 35 percent. 

Amounts varying from a low of $200, to $30,000 in Denver, have been stolen in this latest round of the scam. One elderly Denver resident was convinced to take a $5,000 cash advance on her credit card, then tried to cash what she thought was a winning ticket at the Lottery office. In Lakewood, the thieves wanted $25,000 from a potential victim, who took them to her bank and withdrew $10,000 in cash. 

Sometimes the con will have an acquaintance who acts like a bystander who will pass by and point out that the ticket is a winner. The innocent person withdraws funds from their bank, only to be cheated out of their cash when they find out the ticket is not a legitimate winner, or the money has been "switched" during the transaction. 

Lottery security officials are again teaming with Denver and Lakewood police, as well as other Front Range police agencies to spread the word. The con game has been often reported in other lottery states with high Spanish-speaking populations, such as Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. 

"We simply have to protect our senior citizens from this type of crime. They're trusting and vulnerable, and once scammed, often embarrassed to tell their families," said Colorado Lottery investigator Jim Kirby. Kirby said younger family members may head off the potential theft, if the elderly confide in them. 

The Colorado Lottery advises the public to be aware of the potential scam, to avoid any situations like this and to please notify Investigator Kirby at 303-759-6829, or local law enforcement immediately. 

The Colorado Lottery of course provides all winning numbers to interested persons in retail locations throughout Colorado and on the Colorado Lottery web site, www.coloradolottery.com. Numbers can also be found in both Denver daily newspapers and most major state dailies.