A WOMAN was thrilled when she was told she’d won a jackpot and a new car but she ended up losing $130,000 of her own money.

She went to pay fees associated with supposed prize and the whole scheme unraveled.

The 77-year-old victim got a call in March 2024 from someone who told her she had won a massive cash prize and a vehicle.

But they said to claim the winnings, she needed to pay associated fees.

Months of manipulation ensued as the victim kept paying, transferring funds, and even opening multiple bank accounts at the scammer’s request.

Authorities say Darien Deventon Smith, 31, and Sheniece Elaine Smith, 32, both of Bridgeport, Connecticut, were behind the fraud, reported Fox News.

Police allege the pair tricked the elderly woman into buying money orders and providing them with her debit cards.

The victim was led to believe she was on the verge of receiving her prize, but no jackpot materialized. Instead, she lost her life savings.

The scammers’ tactics included telling the woman she needed to make further payments for various “taxes” and “processing fees.”

In a bid to make good on her promised fortune, the woman even attempted to purchase a vehicle for the non-existent prize.

Authorities became involved after the woman grew suspicious and reached out for help.

An investigation revealed the full extent of the scam and both the accused were arrested on February 28, 2025.

Police charged the Smiths with obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Darien Deventon Smith is scheduled to appear in court on April 23, 2025, while Sheniece Elaine Smith’s court date is set for May 21, 2025.

The Prince William County Police Department said detectives teamed up with PWC Adult Protective Services, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Major Organized Crime & Anti-Corruption Agency to investigate the case.

RISE IN ELDERY SCAMS

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center‘s 2023 Elder Fraud Report, complaints related to elder fraud rose by 14% in 2023.

The financial losses linked to these incidents increased by approximately 11%.

Scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, an increase of approximately 11% from the year prior.

The average victim of elder fraud lost $33,915 due to these crimes in 2023. 

One of the most common scams is lottery scams, also known as sweepstakes scams, in which scammers trick seniors by phone or mail, telling them they’ve won a sweepstakes or lottery.

The prize could be cash or something valuable like a new car.

Earlier this year, an 85-year-old woman from Florida was  was swindled her out of $35,000 when a group of crooks tricked her into thinking she won a massive prize.

Two accused of deceiving the elderly woman into believing she had won $1 million in the Publisher Clearing House Sweepstakes, according to police.

They allegedly told her that in order to claim her prize, she would first need to pay taxes and fees.

Bank tips for avoiding scams

As scams become more sophisticated with the use of artificial intelligence, it is important you know how to spot a scam:

• Be skeptical of online deals that seem too good to be true, especially on social media.
• Scammers will often use tactics to make you panicked so you make quick decisions – be cautious if you are told to take immediate action and verify who has contacted you.
• Chase Bank warns customers to “never return any unexpected funds without calling Chase first.”
• Never send money to someone you have only spoken to online or by phone as this is likely a romance scam.
• Unless you 100% know who you are talking to, never give someone remote access to your device.
• Never accept help from strangers at an ATM and always be vigilant when making withdrawals.
• Do not send money or click any links indicating that you have won a prize.

Source: Chase.com