Four Wanted for Sunset Park Lotto Ticket Ruse

Police in the 72nd Precinct are searching for several suspects accused of swindling victims out of valuables by trading them for phony winning lottery tickets. 

According to police, the first incident occurred on Monday, June 11 around 12 p.m., when two suspects approached their 64-year-old victim near 46th Street and 4th Avenue, using the scam to make off with her money and jewelry. The suspects are described as Hispanic men, one between 40 and 45-years-old, around 5-foot-10 and with salt and pepper hair. The other is between 30 and 40-years old, stands around 5-foot-6 and was wearing glasses. 

The second incident took place on Friday, Aug. 3 around 1:20 p.m., this time at 39th Street and 4th Avenue. The victim, a 57-year-old woman, was approached by two suspects, who also used the scam to con the woman out of her money and jewelry. The suspects in this instance were described as a Hispanic woman, around 5-foot-5 and roughly 200 pounds, and a heavyset Hispanic man, around 5-foot-10 with brown hair. 

Images of the suspects can be seen at right. 

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and entering TIP577.