SUNNYVALE DPS SEEKS LOTTERY SCAM SUSPECT

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) investigators are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect in a lottery scam. On September 29, at 1:40 p.m., two suspects approached a victim in a Costco parking lot and convinced the victim to withdraw money from a local bank.

In this lottery scam, the first suspect approached the victim, claiming to have a winning lottery ticket. The second suspect then approached and joined the first suspect and victim. The first suspect stated he could not claim the winnings due to the fact he was not a legal resident. The second suspect then convinced the victim to put up “good faith” money in exchange for a portion of the winnings. After the victim withdrew money from the bank and turned it over to the suspects, the suspects disappeared.

The first suspect is described as an Hispanic male, 30 to 35 years old, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 170 to 180 pounds. The second suspect is described as a Caucasian male, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall, weighing 180 to 190 pounds.

One of the suspects appears to be a person suspected in a similar scam that occurred in Sunnyvale in December 2005, as well as another recent scam in Cupertino. The victims in all three cases have been East Indian males.

Anyone with information on the suspect’s identity is asked to call Det. Eric Suzuki at (408) 730-7130, or leave an anonymous tip at (408) 245-3784.