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Police arrest four in Chicago lottery ticket scam
Scam Alert: Police arrest four in Chicago lottery ticket scam
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Police arrested two men and two women earlier this week who allegedly ran a lottery ticket scam that targeted elderly Hispanic victims.
The four worked as a team and typically sought out elderly Hispanic victims at stores and on the street, according to a release from the Chicago Police.
The suspects would approach a victim two at a time and explain they were illegal immigrants and had a winning lottery ticket of more than one million dollars. They would then offer to share the winnings if the elderly victim gave money in good faith.
The suspects persuaded about five victims to give between $5,000 to $50,000 and/or jewelry with the promise that the victims would share in the lottery winnings. The combined loss of the five victims was about $110,000, the release said. The suspects also attempted to defraud two other victims of $50,000.
John Garcia, 30 of the 4700 block of South Karlov Avenue, was charged with three counts of theft by deception and one count of attempted theft by deception.
William Velasquez-Ortiz, 43, of the 2000 block of North Milwaukee Avenue, was charged with one count of theft by deception and two counts of attempted theft by deception.
Janet Cruz, 39, of the 3200 block of West Lawrence Avenue, was charged with three counts of theft by deception.
Carmen Perez-Santiago, 62, of the 3200 block of West Lawrence Avenue was charged with one count of theft by deception.
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Chicago Sun-Times
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10 comments. Last comment 3 months ago by .
New Jersey United States Member #18150 June 28, 2005 14894 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 8, 2009, 9:13 am - IP Logged |
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Prey on the weak: Meet the Strong Arm of the Law!
The sad thing is: For every Criminal put in Jail: It Costs the Tax Payers $50,000/yr to keep them there! A mind once stretched by a new idea never returns to its original dimensions!
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NC United States Member #11965 February 23, 2005 1054 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 8, 2009, 9:23 am - IP Logged |
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NC needs to open up an investigation on the new owners of the corner country store to get them also. I've reported what happened to me there to the NC authorities but I guess they will need more compliaints before they look into it. I bought 6 Pick 3 tickets there, and only received 5 back. Now they charged me $6 for the tix. I never left the counter and I counted my tickets out right there. I even told him what number was missing ! The guy swore he gave me 6, and I told him, I never left away from the counter and that he did not give me my 6th ticket and I wanted my ticket or my money back, well by this time the other clerk was like maybe you left your ticket in your car..I was like lady, I never left this store AND I never left this counter, so I am going to call the police right now unless I get my ticket or my money! Wellll....low and behold....my ticket magically appeared and I was told oh it printed out late......I told both clerks that they were liars because I know for a fact my ticket did not print out late... #1.. I have played the VA lottery since it began so I am no stranger to the lottery here in NC!
#2. The ticket that was missing was ticket #3 on the playslip that I filled out. Soooo how could I have tickets 1 to 6 and the 3 was missing.
#3. I looked at the ticket printer and there was NO ticket on there and then you pull a ticket from the side of the printer... BULLCHIPS!!
I told everyone that was in the line what had happened and most of them left the store and a few stayed b/c they said they was not buying tickets. I have not been back there to get another ticket nor will I ever go back to this particular store!
So if you are in Durham NC don't go to the store that formerly used to be called Pope's on the corner of Cheek Road/Burton Rd.
Don't even go there to get your tickets checked! After what that store employee did to that man and stole his winning million dollar ticket, these people will be out the country before you know it.
The store has new owners now and they are shady! Be kind to a stranger because you never know when you are talking to an angel.
KZM
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United States Member #71625 February 19, 2009 266 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 8, 2009, 9:34 am - IP Logged |
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And it's most of the time the people from another country....Let me go somewhere and do that and I would be deheaded...but not here.
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Dallas, TX United States Member #55038 August 23, 2007 249 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 8, 2009, 12:01 pm - IP Logged |
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United States Member #72957 March 18, 2009 65 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 8, 2009, 2:47 pm - IP Logged |
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The article indicated: "The suspects would approach a victim two at a time and explain they were illegal immigrants and had a winning lottery ticket of more than one million dollars."
Isn't this kindness personified. Possibly one illegal resident, helping another? Now that's truly SHARING the luck. People who were resourceful enough to enter the good 'ole U.S.A. illegally prove that they are able to help themselves to what they want repeatedly.
Also, it's an alarming cost comment #1 about prison! I wonder why these 4 criminals, and any of their illegal associates, aren't instead deported. Are these repeat law breakers/law disrespectors simply tried here and then deported/returned to the country that they are legal citizens for the deemed sentance? Yet, perhaps these four criminal people are U.S.A. citizens, so they can't be deported. I have my lottery ticket, am grateful, and am ready to claim my sole-jackpot-win at the lottery headquarters ... which will provide me with rapid financial independance!
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Massachusetts United States Member #37842 April 14, 2006 142 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 8, 2009, 6:30 pm - IP Logged |
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I am tired of feeling sorry for the elderly who are smart enough to know that when the deal is too good then something is not right. I mean, they are not small children who dont know better. The criminals should be charged but also the people who get scammed should start using their brains.
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WINNING IS EASY Chicago, IL United States Member #69671 January 5, 2009 769 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 9, 2009, 3:16 am - IP Logged |
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Either people are getting really creative or people are getting more vulnerable. Which one? Think its Luck?...Think again!
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Dallas, TX United States Member #60771 April 12, 2008 3195 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 9, 2009, 5:37 am - IP Logged |
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They deserved it! Soon to be millionaire.
Lottoism } My lottery tools / 100% free / ad-free site.
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Charlotte NC United States Member #17704 June 18, 2005 3539 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 10, 2009, 12:40 am - IP Logged |
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Either people are getting really creative or people are getting more vulnerable. Which one? It's an old scam, just with a lottery twist.
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Oath Keeper East Tennessee United States Member #74415 April 28, 2009 774 Posts Offline |
| Posted: November 10, 2009, 9:07 am - IP Logged |
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It's an old scam, just with a lottery twist. That's right, it's called the "pigeon drop." It's usually used with the ruse that they found a large sum of money and will share it with you if you put up some "good faith" money to show you can be trusted. It's amazing how people keep falling for it through the years. Somebody is going to win millions again. My chance is as good as the varmint that won last time. 
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