Mission District residents should be aware of what police are calling the “Latin Lotto scam,” a scheme in which con artists dupe their victims into handing over thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for a share in lottery winnings.
The scammers use several lines to win over victims:
“I cannot claim the prize because I’m not a U.S. citizen or I don’t have papers.”
“I need money to claim my prize. If you help me, we can share the prize amount.”
“I’m in a hurry and need to return to my country.”
The victims are usually elderly women, but younger women and elderly men have also been targeted in other states, according to a police press release.
Two incidents have occurred in the Mission in the last month, the press release stated.
I guess the scam artists have finally decided to expand into other languages besides English.