Florida Senator Bill Nelson was expected to talk Friday about a scam involving some elderly people in South Florida, who claim they are losing large sums of money in a Jamaica-based lottery scam.
The majority of victims reported have been South and central Florida residents who receive aggressive and sometimes threatening phone calls by scam artists who promise huge foreign lottery winnings.
SoFla Lotto Scam Targets Elderly
Nelson will meet with officials and a local financial planner, who are in the process of defending victims of the scam.
“It's despicable that these crooks are preying on our most vulnerable seniors who sometimes have difficulty remembering important details,” said Nelson in an email statement.
Scam Victim Loses $370,000 But Wants to Keep Giving
Other states have been affected, but postal inspectors say Florida is getting hit particularly hard because of its large senior population and proximity to Jamaica.
Suspected Scammer: "I'll Take Old Lady's Cash"
A hearing will be held March 13 in Washington D.C. to investigate the effect the scam is having on the elderly.
