A Nanaimo couple in their 80's have been swindled out of nearly $400,000 after falling for a lotto scam throughout much of 2021. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

SAVINGS GONE

Nanaimo couple lose almost $400,000 in long-term lotto scam

Mar 10, 2022 | 8:44 AM

NANAIMO — A local, senior couple have been milked of hundreds of thousands of dollars by scammers who convinced them they’d struck it rich.

The unidentified couple, both in their late 80’s received a call in early 2021 from someone claiming to be from the Readers Digest Sweepstakes Mega Millions. The person said they’d won $18.5 million and a brand new luxury car.

Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the scam was only uncovered when a parallel investigation by the Nanaimo detachment flagged their file and informed the couple they were being scammed.

“Of course before they could get their winnings, they had to pay “a few” administrative fees,” O’Brien said. “These administrative fees led to hundreds of bank drafts being taken out and sent to various locations in the United States.”

Several days after the initial call, the couple received documents which appeared to be from the IRS to state they owed taxes on the prize and needed to arrange payment.

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Calls for payment continued on a weekly basis, with reasons ranging from back taxes to storage fees for the non-existant Mercedes-Bens.

The couple ultimately made hundreds of withdrawals over more than a year, each totalling several thousand dollars.

O’Brien said the couple never received a dime of prize money and are out a substantial amount of cash.

“This is so troubling, it happens so many times and it’s a very simple message we tell people: you have to buy a ticket to win a lotto and in most cases you’re not even eligible to play a lotto that’s in another country.”

He added if a call sounds too good to be true, it often is.

“If someone says you’ve won the lotto but there are administrative fees to pay, hang up and run away and tell somebody. There are no legitimate lottos in Canada or elsewhere where you will have to pay such significant fees.”

Information on current frauds, along with best practices to deal with these scams directly or with less savvy senior relatives are available at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Nanaimo couple lose almost $400,000 in long-term lotto scam

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