This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Vancouver Police are reporting an alarming spike in the number of lottery scams already this year. There have been five reported cases involving losses in the tens of thousands already in 2012, as compared to just two at the same time in 2011. But even more disturbing, the scams have been targeting vulnerable elderly citizens, in many cases duping them out of their life savings.
One particular scam first came to the attention of VPD Financial Crime investigators on March 26th when the Hillsborough Police Department in Hillsborough, California contacted VPD detectives to report a scam that had a connection to Vancouver.
An officer with the Hillsborough PD took a report of a telemarketing lottery scam from an 89 year old woman who had been duped into wiring $70,000 from her bank account to the suspects, who identified themselves as belonging to the Australian Government Lottery. The victim was told she had won $7,500,000.00 and was instructed to open a new secret “Swiss” bank account to receive the winnings. The victim was called several more times over the next few days advising her of additional winnings of $10, 500,000.00 and instructed to open more accounts. She was then told to deposit $125,000 before she could collect on the winnings.
The unsuspecting senior deposited $70,000 and wired the money to an account in Vancouver. She never heard from the callers again. Subsequent investigation by the VPD Financial Crime Unit led the investigators to a business in Vancouver and a search warrant was executed on F & A Accounting and Tax Consultants at 2657 Kingsway.
The following people are charged:
Nazifa Raza (female)
27 year old Vancouver resident
– fraud over $5000
– forgery
Saheem M. Raza M.
30 year old Vancouver resident
– fraud over $5000
– forgery
Fareed M. Raza
38 year old Vancouver resident
– forgery
In a similar scam just a month earlier, a 76 year old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania man received a telephone call from a person claiming to be from Publisher’s Clearing House. He told the unsuspecting senior that he had won a prize and to send $4,500.00 in cash to an address in Richmond, BC to cover the taxes on his winnings. The man sent the cash via courier, and on February 8th, was contacted again and asked to send an additional $9,800.00, which he did. He realized that he may have been duped when no one showed up to give him his prize at a prearranged meeting point at the Pittsburgh airport on February 9th.
The man placed a call to Publisher’s Clearing House and was told that he had been the victim of a scam. Five days later, on February 14th, the man received a final call asking for another $9,800.00 to be couriered to a residential address on Kingsway in Vancouver. Recognizing the scam immediately, the man contacted his local police department and an investigation was launched.
Charged with mail fraud over $5000 is:
– Richard Williams – 30 year old Surrey resident
Three other similar-fact cases remain under investigation involving the following victims:
– 80 year old man living in Mequon, Wisconsin
– 76 year old man living in Gilbert, Arizona
– 81 year old man living in Billings, Montana
The VPD Financial Crime Unit is continuing to work closely with policing partners in the United States in an effort to prevent more elderly citizens from falling victim to scammers. Anyone with information is asked to contact the VPD Financial Crime Section.
Investigators have found common denominators in these types of crimes. There is always secrecy involved and callers demand cash, which is hard to trace. If you haven’t entered the lottery, you can’t win, and agencies like Publisher’s Clearing House don’t make phone calls, they come in person.
Most of the victims have health issues or are lonely and the perpetrators will not stop until the money is gone.
Some victims are too embarrassed to tell anyone. Here are some tips that a scam may have been committed against your loved one:
– notepads and pieces of paper around the house with phone numbers and information
– receiving a lot of calls and there is secrecy surrounding them
– a shortage of money and bills not being paid
– an unusual or excessive amount of magazines (subscriptions) or items coming in the mail
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