NEWARK, N.J. — The Newark Department of Public Safety is seeking the public’s help in identifying three male suspects involved in a lottery scam that took place on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred outside Citizens Bank on Lafayette Street, where a female victim was deceived into withdrawing money from her account.
According to Newark Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé, police were called to the scene around 4 p.m. after the victim reported the theft. The woman stated that she was approached by two men who claimed they needed her financial assistance to claim their lottery winnings. After convincing her to withdraw funds, additional unauthorized withdrawals were made from her account, totaling $385.
The suspects fled the scene, and the woman immediately returned to the bank to report the incident. Detectives are now working to identify the three men involved and are asking the public for any information that could assist in their capture.
“We are urging anyone who recognizes these individuals or has any information about this incident to come forward,” Director Fragé said in a statement. The department has released images of the suspects and is seeking tips that could lead to their identification.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Newark police as the investigation continues. Detectives are actively pursuing leads and hope public cooperation will lead to a swift resolution of the case.