A woman has been held in Miami, Florida for allegedly being involved in the Jamaican lottery scam.
Investigators say the woman, identified as Vennesa Hawkins, is facing several charges. The police
report that an elderly couple in New York lost more than $40,000 after they were told they had won $2.5 million and a brand new car.
Investigators say Hawkins received several packages at a home in a gated community in Miramar over the past few weeks. The packages – from the couple in New York, contained thousands of dollars in cash, checks and Apple electronics.
A police spokesman says the victims were told by scammers that they needed to send the items to pay the taxes on their prizes. He said some of the phone numbers used to contact the victims in New York were based in Jamaica.
The arrest report says Hawkins told police that the items she received were for her brother in Jamaica.
The police say when they searched her home they found evidence of identity theft.
