Online Lottery Scams Target Seniors
According to the RCMP, several Calgary residents tricked 24 elderly or disabled Americans out of about $3 million over a three-year period by telling them they had won a lottery. This lottery scam targeted U.S. seniors.
Between 2005 and 2008, the victims were contacted by letter or phone and told they had won a lottery or sweepstakes but were required to pay taxes, administration fees or lawyers’ fees before they could collect winnings, which didn’t exist.
One person sent in between $500,000 and $1 million, with the scam collecting about $3 million in total. Some people lost their life savings, and have been ostracized by family or have been forced to remortgage their homes. Others in their 70s had to return to work.
Investigators have arrested four people from Calgary, one from Burnaby, B.C., and one from Toronto. Canada-wide arrest warrants are outstanding for three other suspects who police believe are in the Calgary area.
