Thursday, March 7, 2013
Resident Falls Victim To “Facebook Lottery” Scheme
A police investigation was initiated this week after a Lawrenceburg woman realized she had fallen victim to an online scam.
The victim, age 57, of Roberts Avenue reported to officers with the Lawrenceburg Police Department that she began receiving messages on February 28, indicating that she was a winner in the “Facebook Lottery.”
She said she had chatted several times online with the “Lottery Manager,” who identified herself as Michelle Waddrell.
The victim was informed that, in order to claim her prize, she would need to send funds to cover associated fees.
The victim told officers that she sent funds three times via Western Union Money Transfers to addresses in North Little Rock, Arkansas and Nigeria. The funds transferred totaled $1,184.00.
The victim reported that she had gone to a financial institution to obtain a small loan and that employees informed her she had likely been targeted in a fraud scheme.
Investigation into the crime is currently on-going.
