MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD – Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are looking into a reported theft that occurred on April 10, involving a sophisticated scam that ended in the loss of $10,000.
The victim reported being approached in the TJMaxx store on Frederick Rd., by two individuals who engaged her in conversation about a local church assisting immigrants.
The interaction escalated with the suspects convincing the victim to partake in a scheme to claim a supposed lottery win that they could not cash due to their undocumented status.
With an accomplice posing as a lottery company representative over a phone call, the suspects convinced the victim to contribute $10,000 as a ‘guarantor’ to claim the prize. After retrieving the cash from her home, the victim was asked to drive to a drugstore to buy medicine for one of the suspects. Upon her return, the suspects had disappeared, taking the $10,000 from the glovebox with them.
Detectives, who have released surveillance photos of the suspects, believe they may be targeting older or vulnerable individuals. The public is being asked to assist in identifying the suspects and to remain vigilant about such scams.
