Two Holiday City Residents Bilked Out Of Money In Separate Lottery Scams

A man whose name police are not releasing recently wired $75,000 overseas to a bogus lottery scam, Detective Sgt. James J. Smith said.

"We are pleading with residents not to send any type of funds to anyone they don't personally know," Smith said.

The man who lost $75,000 had responded to a letter from the "U.S. Megamillions Lottery." The man called the phone number listed in the letter, he said.

"When they call the number, they are given an address to send the money to," Smith said.

The man made several wire transfers and sent a total of $75,000, he said.

Another resident lost $1,000 after mailing money to a phony lottery in Costa Rica, Smith said.

The fraudulent lottery scams usually come by phone or mail, he said.

"Once you make contact in the mail, they contact you by phone and it starts from there," Smith said. "Once the money stops, they start calling and threatening. People just need to be aware."

Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele says residents in the senior villages need to call the police as soon as they think they may be the target of a scam.

"A lot of seniors think they are bothering us by calling," the chief said. "This is our job. Call us. You are not bothering us. It's easier to inform them of the scam than it is to investigate after they have become a victim."

Residents who see suspicious activity should contact the police at 732-341-6600 or the township's anonymous police tip line at 732-341-1132 ext. 611.

"If solicited by phone or e-mail for a lottery you did not enter, you can't win," Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said. "Please disregard, send no money and contact the police department."