Swindlers con NYC woman out of $5K worth of jewelry — by trading the bling for a ‘winning’ lottery ticket

By Breaking News Nigeria On Aug 10, 2026

A woman in Queens was conned out of $5,000 worth of jewelry after two men who claimed they couldn’t collect a lottery jackpot because of their immigration status offered to trade their “winning” ticket for her bling, police said.

Cops said the 69-year-old woman was approached by the two grifters after they rolled up on her in their gray BMW around 10:50 a.m. in front of 86-75 78 St. in Woodhaven.

Surveillance photo of two men identified as con artists on a city street. — Cops said the 69-year-old woman was approached by the two cons after they rolled up on her in their gray BMW around 10:50 a.m. in front of 86-75 78 St. in Woodhaven. NYPD

The pair of fraudsters got out of the car and began to tell the woman that they’d been lucky enough to have a winning lottery ticket with them – but were unable to collect the prize because of their immigration status, police said.

It wasn’t immediately clear how much they told the woman the jackpot was.

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Surveillance image of a man in a light blue cap, white shirt, and tan pants walking on a sidewalk. — The pair of fraudsters got out of the car and began to tell the woman that they’d been lucky enough to have a winning lottery ticket with them – but were unable to collect the prize because of their immigration status, police said. NYPD

The scamsters then convinced the woman to trade her bling – which cops said was worth around $5,000 – in return for the ticket, according to police.

Authorities said that after getting the woman to hand over her jewels under false pretenses, the thieves then asked her if she could buy pain medication for them at a nearby pharmacy.

When the lady entered the store to get the duo the meds, they disappeared with the loot, police said.

Authorities released images of the suspects, with one of the swindlers seen wearing a white shirt, khaki pants and a newsboy cap. The other is seen in an all-black outfit, including a black baseball cap.

Surveillance photo of a man in a light blue long-sleeved shirt, tan pants, and a light-colored flat cap, walking on a sidewalk. — The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying individuals wanted in connection with a grand larceny incident on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 86-75 78 Street. The suspects allegedly conned a 69-year-old woman out of $5,000 worth of jewelry by promising to exchange it for a winning lottery ticket. (NYPD) NYPD

Crime Stoppers image of a man in a black polo shirt, black pants, and a black baseball cap. — The New York City Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying two unidentified males wanted in connection with a grand larceny incident on Saturday, August 8, 2026, in New York City. The suspects allegedly scammed a 69-year-old woman out of $5,000 worth of jewelry by falsely promising to exchange it for a winning lottery ticket. (NYPD) NYPD

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.