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Bank employee helps avert lottery scam
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An Oxnard woman narrowly escaped losing money to a lottery scam Monday when a bank employee intervened, authorities said.
The 54-year-old woman was shopping in the Ross Department Store at 4687 Telephone Road in Ventura about 1:30 p.m. Monday when another woman about her age approached her and said she had a lottery ticket worth $39,000, according to a prepared statement from the Ventura Police Department.
The woman said she was an illegal immigrant and claimed she needed to bring $30,000 with her to cash the ticket because of her immigration status, police said. A second woman pretending to be a shopper said she had money to contribute.
Both women suggested they go to the victim's bank to withdraw $20,000 cash, then split the $9,000 profit from the ticket. The Oxnard woman agreed.
At the victim's bank, an employee realized what was happening and called authorities, police said.
Officers responded to the bank, but they could not find the suspected scammers. The Oxnard woman did not lose any money in the incident.
No upfront money is required to redeem lottery tickets. Police encourage people to call authorities if anyone approaches them asking for cash in exchange for monetary returns.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Ventura police at 339-4343 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Tipsters who give information that leads to an arrest could receive up to $1,000 cash.
Posted by AdrianaV on July 2, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That bank teller deserves a raise and a reward. Hopefully the would-be victim realizes how lucky she is that some one cared enough to ask the right questions.
Posted by shaver_one on July 5, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the bank teller was wise enough to use the VPD main number (650-8010) and not 9-1-1...thus saving the bank $17.88 in 9-1-1 taxes.
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