lottery scams

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They Figured Out How to Scam the Texas Lottery—Legally

Zeljko Ranogajec, others figured out that if you buy up every number combination you can still make bank

(Newser) - If you forked over your hard-earned cash to play the lottery in Texas in the spring of 2023, you may be a little torqued at what you're about to read. The story out in the Wall Street Journal is about "the Joker"—aka John Wilson, formerly known...

She Wanted Anonymity After Powerball Win, Didn't Get It

Cristy Davis advocates for winners being able to stay anonymous after scammers exploited her

(Newser) - No one matched all the requisite numbers in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, which has sent the jackpot for Saturday night's picks to $725 million . Winning such a huge lottery is a moment most of us have daydreamed about, but Cristy Davis actually lived that dream, after claiming a $70...

It's Prison for Dad, Son Whose Lottery 'Luck' Was a Scam

Ali and Yousef Jaafar illegally cashed 14K tickets over 9 years

(Newser) - A father and son in Massachusetts will spend years in prison for a decade-long lottery scam that saw them claim $20 million in winnings from 14,000 tickets, illegally obtained from the true winners. Authorities are calling it "an elaborate tax fraud" that ensnared not only the father and...

Lottery Scammer Gets Out 20 Years Early

But Eddie Tipton still owes $2.2M

(Newser) - The Iowa man behind one of the largest lottery scams in American history has been granted parole after serving less than five years of his 25-year sentence—but Eddie Tipton might need to figure out another way to make money fast. The Iowa Board of Parole says Tipton, a former...

Feds Indict Family That Cashed 13K Lottery Tickets in 8 Years
Prosecutors: Family's
Lottery Luck Was Too Fishy
in case you missed it
Aug 28, 2021 5:30 AM CDT

Prosecutors: Family's Lottery Luck Was Too Fishy

Massachusetts' Ali Jaafar, 2 sons accused of $21M fraud

(Newser) - Ali Jaafar, 63, was the top individual lottery ticket casher in Massachusetts in 2019. His sons Mohamed, 31, and Yousef, 28, were third and fourth respectively, per Complex . According to prosecutors, family luck had nothing to do with it. In reality, the three men who cashed in more than 13,...

Biggest Lottery Winner in US Was Swindled: Prosecutors

'Lottery Lawyer' Jason Kurland charged in $107M fraud

(Newser) - The "Lottery Lawyer" advertised his services while noting that many lottery winners "are not sophisticated enough" to see potential scams. "You really have to rely on the professionals," Jason Kurland told Vice in 2016. Now three winners who relied on Kurland have lost more than $80...

Scam Victim, 90, Who Lost $400K Has Gotten $287 Back

Another $138 could be on the way

(Newser) - A 90-year-old North Dakota woman who was robbed of her life savings in a Jamaican lottery scam says she has been paid back only $287 of the $400,000 she's owed. The case of Edna Schmeets of Harvey, a small North Dakota town about 75 miles northeast of Bismarck,...

US Woman Could Get Life for Jamaica Lottery Scam

'Her hands were all over the conspiracy'

(Newser) - A federal judge in North Dakota on Monday ordered a Rhode Island woman convicted of funneling lottery scam money between the US and Jamaica to remain jailed pending a February sentencing hearing where she could face a stiffer sentence than the alleged mastermind, the AP reports. "Her hands were...

How Eddie Tipton Scammed $24M From the Lottery
Hijacked Code Let Lottery
Fraudster Win $24M
in case you missed it
Mar 31, 2018 11:40 AM CDT

Hijacked Code Let Lottery Fraudster Win $24M

It all started with a convo about 'secret numbers' and a search for Bigfoot

(Newser) - The Iowa man behind the biggest US lotto scam ever was a "very large" and "kind of lonesome" geek, according to his own brother, and he didn't set out to rig more than $24 million for the money: Eddie Tipton says he did it for the challenge....

Programmer Who Rigged the Lottery Is Headed to Jail

Eddie Tipton and cohorts knew the winning numbers

(Newser) - An ex-lottery computer programmer who rigged the system in several states to enable himself to win $2.2 million in jackpots is going to prison. An Iowa judge sentenced Eddie Tipton, 54, to up to 25 years in prison on Tuesday, though the Des Moines Register reports he could be...

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