Polk detectives look for lotto ticket scammers

Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

Don't be too trusting, because there are plenty of people out there ready willing and able to take you for everything you've got.

Detectives are looking for a guy accused of pulling a lottery ticket scam.  They say on Wednesday, he and a female accomplice approached a woman walking to a bus stop in Winter Haven.  The female scammer said she had a winning lottery ticket worth a half-million dollars, but couldn't claim it because she was an illegal immigrant.

She offered to sell it for a few thousand bucks, and the victim handed over the cash.

A few weeks ago, they pulled the same con on a woman shopping at the Posner Center in east Polk County. 

In both cases, they told the victims that the female scammer had a headache, then asked the victims to go buy medicine for her.  In both cases, they did, but when the victims came out, the scammers were gone -- and so was their money.

Detectives describe the man as 5-foot-10 and 250 pounds, with salt and pepper hair, black jeans, and a black and white checkered shirt.

They say the female suspect is Hispanic, in her 40s, 5-foot-5, slim, and speaks with an accent.

If you know anything about this, investigators ask you to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.