Lottery Ticket Scam Reported in Perth Amboy

Perth Amboy, NJ - Police in Perth Amboy are warning that several residents there have been approached on the street as part of a lottery scam.

Victims in these cases are normally Hispanic and the suspects are male and female Hispanics, police said. The suspects normally speak only Spanish while committing this scam.

The first suspect, who claims to be looking for an attorney, approaches the victim on the street. The suspect goes on to say that he has a winning lottery ticket, but is afraid to cash it as he is in the country illegally. The second suspect joins the scenario and the story is told again.

The first suspect either offers to pay the two a substantial amount of money or sell them the winning ticket at a great discount for assistance in cashing it. Once the victim agrees to help, the suspect claims to want proof that they know how to handle money or needs currency to purchase or redeem the ticket and induces the victim to withdraw several thousand dollars.

Once the money is withdrawn it is taken from the victim either in a switch or, more frequently, by sending the victim into a drug store and driving off. In this scenario, one of the suspects feigns sickness throughout the offense and pretends to very ill when the victim returns from the bank. The victim is sent into the drug store for medicine and the suspects drive off.

If you are a victim or approached by anyone trying to perpetrate this type of scam. Please contact the Perth Amboy Police Department at 732-442-4400.

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