Police warn of lottery win scam

Bedfordshire Police said victims had lost money and valuables after being approached to claim money from winning lottery tickets

A police force has warned people to be aware of a fraud surrounding claims of a successful lottery win.

Bedfordshire Police said victims had lost money and valuables after being approached to claim money from winning lottery tickets by people who claimed they could not collect the winnings themselves "for immigration reasons".

The offenders offered to split the winnings but asked for a deposit, which they then stole.

The force said all the incidents had "very similar methodology".

'Be on guard'

Four victims had money and valuables worth £50,000 stolen in separate incidents between the 27 September and 24 October across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, police said.

In each case the victims, who were typically men of South Asian heritage, were approached in the street by two people pretending to have a winning lottery ticket they were unable to claim for immigration reasons.

One of the men was described as Eastern European, the other of South Asian heritage.

The pair were on the phone to a third man claiming to be from the National Lottery.

They offered to split the winnings if the victim cashed the lottery ticket, but then demanded cash or jewellery as a deposit.

The victims were driven to their homes to collect the valuables but once the thieves had the possessions they drove away.

Det Sgt Greg Davenport, of Bedfordshire Police’s Force Intelligence Bureau, said: "These incidents happened in Greyfriars in Bedford, Marsh Road in Luton as well as in Watford and Potters Bar. But they all have very similar methodology.

"We clearly would like to hear from anyone who has information about these incidents but it is also really important that people are aware of this scam and on their guard."

The force has warned people to be wary of anyone who approaches them out of the blue with claims of earning money and pressurising them to act quickly.

Any suspicious activity should be reported to the police.