Los Angeles Lotto Scam Targets Spanish-speaking Residents

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the LAPD has announced that there has recently been a large bunco scam going around Los Angeles County that specifically targets Spanish-speaking residents in Hispanic neighborhoods.

The huge scheme is being referred to as the "Latin Lotto Scam" simply because it targets those who speak Spanish as their primary or only language.

Suspects involved in the scam approach people who speak Spanish and offer them a deal. The deal involves the victim cashing in a high paying lottery ticket. The two suspects are a man and a woman who are reportedly working together on the scheme.

The man and the woman then ask the victim if they know where a fictitious church is and if they know a fictitious priest. The suspects then tell the victim that the priest will help them cash in the ticket since they claim to not be citizens and are therefore unable to redeem the money for the supposedly winning ticket.

The suspects then ask the victim to take out money from their bank accounts and their homes to show that they are helping fellow Spanish-speakers and Hispanics. Additionally, the suspects are willing to drive the victim to numerous locations in order to take out their money. Police describe the scam as a class bait and switch routine that has happened to numerous people.

As of right now, Los Angeles Police Department detectives have identified that there have been multiple Spanish-speaking victims, all of who are women and who reside within the middle of the city of Los Angeles in generally Hispanic neighborhoods.

It is estimated that the suspects have stolen and scammed victims out of a total of $15,000 in both cash, jewelery, and other items.

The two suspects are described as being a male Hispanic, roughly 180-200 pounds, 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall, and between 35 to 45 years old. His counterpart, a female Hispanic, is described as being between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall, 130-160 pounds, and also between 35 and 45 years old. The vehicle that the suspects were driving is described as being an older model gray Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle.

Anyone with information about the suspects or the scam itself is asked to contact Wilshire Detective Luis Corona at 213-922-8266. On weekends, during non-business hours, and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free tip line number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Source:

Los Angeles Police Department. "Latin Lottery Scam Warning." www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/news_view/37056