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NYPD: Bible-Carrying Pair Targeting Women In "Lottery Scam"
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 17, 2014
Modified Oct 17, 2014
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 17, 2014
Modified Oct 17, 2014
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Cops are looking for a man and a woman who are preying on unsuspecting ladies' hopes for some easy money. The pair claim that they have a winning lottery ticket but can't cash it in—so they ask victims to "cash" it in for them.
According to the NYPD, there have been nine incidents in Manhattan and Brooklyn since March of this year. The police outlined the M.O.:
During the commission of these incidents the suspects run a "lottery scam" on their victims. The scams consist of one of the suspects approaching the victim and claiming to be an undocumented person with a winning lottery ticket. The suspect asks the victim if they could help them cash the winning ticket in, while this is going on a second suspect approaches and offers some assistance. The second suspect is well dressed and sometimes carries a Bible. The second suspect claims to know a lawyer who could help but he would require money. The suspects convince the victim to give them some money in order to pay the lawyer and then split the winnings from the lottery ticket.
This is a variation on the timeless "pigeon drop" scam, wherein the perpetrators make someone believe there's value in something—and then get the victim to fork over cash.
Here's a list of the incidents:
1) On Friday, March 14, 2014 at approximately 1530 hours in the confines of the 75th Precinct. Victim: F/49. Location: Arlington Ave and Miller Ave. Amount taken: $4502) On Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at approximately 1100 hours in the confines of the 25th Precinct. Victim: F/28 Location: 2191 3rd Ave. Amount taken: $2,100.00 3) On Friday, April 25, 2014 at approximately 1600 hours in the confines of the 33rd Precinct. Victim: F/61. Location: St. Nicholas Ave. and West 172 Street. Amount taken: $500.00 and $2,500.00 worth of jewelry. 4) On Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at approximately 0930 hours in the confines of the 32nd Precinct. Victim: F/67. Location: 7th Ave. and West 143rd Street. Amount taken: $1200.00 5) On Monday, May 12, 2014 at approximately 1000 hours in the confines of the 34th Precinct. Victim: F/33. Location: Wadsworth Ave. and West 184th Street. Amount taken: $2800.00 and $200.00 worth of jewelry. 6) On Friday, May 30, 2014 at approximately 1300 hours in the confines of the 76th Precinct. Victim: F/74. Location: 197 Smith Street. Amount taken: $1514.00 7) On Thursday, June 26, 2014 at approximately 1200 hours in the confines of the 24th Precinct. Victim: F/81. Location 215 West 104th Street. Amount taken: $6000.00 and $3,600.00 worth of jewelry 8) On Monday, August 11, 2014 at approximately 1200 hours in the confines of the 26th Precinct. Victim: F/66. Location: 1461 Amsterdam Ave. Amount taken: $2800.00 and jewelry. 9) On Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at approximately 1400 hours in the confines of the 24th Precinct. Victim: F/65. Location Broadway and West 102nd Street. Amount taken: unk amount of jewelry.
Police also released video from incident 8, with the suspects who are described as a man in his 50s, about 5'3" who has a slim build, is well-dressed and carries a bible; and a woman in her 40s-50s, about 4'5"-5'3" and who is known to wear a wig.
Anyone with information in regards to 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 enter TIP577.
Tagged
brooklyn
crime
grand larceny
lottery scam
manhattan
pigeon drop
scam
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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