70-Year-Old Lottery Scam Victim Makes Up Robbery Story

Friday, March 17, 2006 posted 09:38 AM EST

STUART, Fla. -- Embarrassed about being the victim of a lottery scam, a senior citizen made up a story about being robbed at gunpoint and tied up with electrical tape, sheriff's investigators in Stuart said.

"She told us a man came in with her but that's not what the bank video shows. There were several things," said Jenell Atlas, of Martin County Sheriff's Office.

As Rita Flores-Castro's story fell apart, the truth wasn't much better.

"She was afraid, ashamed," Atlas said.

Flores-Castro did lose $2,900, but not in the way she told the sheriff's office.

"A Hispanic person approaches another Hispanic or Latin person and says, 'I'm illegal. I'm afraid. Can you cash this winning lottery ticket?'" Atlas said, describing the scam.

Atlas said Flores-Castro made up the robbery story because the $2,900 was FEMA money given to her to fix her roof and she wanted it back.

According to the sheriff's office, as a sign of good faith, Flores-Castro handed over all but $100 from her bank account.

"She's still a victim. If she would have told us the truth about it we could have surrounded the area and caught them," Atlas said. "Then to find out that it did not happen wastes money, wastes resources."

Flores-Castro would not talk speak to WPTV in West Palm Beach, saying she had a medical condition and needed to rest.

The sheriff's office spent 2 1/2 days investigating the claim, but said because of her age and because Flores-Castro is also a victim, she will not be charged with a crime.

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