‘Money is gone,’ warn cops after $477k drained from woman’s account – bank tried to help but she lost her retirement

LAW enforcement officials are warning people about a sinister scam after a senior victim was swindled out of $477,000.

Investigators in Florida said the evil hoax started when the two suspects, Michael Lawrence and Max Richards, preyed on the victim with a fake sweepstakes.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the victim received a call from the two men informing her that she had won the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes valued at $3 million.

However, Lawrence and Richards told the victim in order to obtain the funds, she needed to pay taxes, Judd said.

The victim, who police said showed early signs of dementia, took out money from her retirement to pay for the faux tax fees.

“It was an elaborate scheme that worked because, once again, a very elderly lady was totally scammed,” the sheriff said.

“She borrowed money against her retirement and against her stock at Publix.”

The victim proceeded to make an initial payment, but the suspects informed her that the amount was insufficient.

The woman returned to Publix Employees Federal Credit Union for more money, where a worker cautioned her if she was not being scammed.

“When she went for the first check, they said, ‘Are you sure you’re not scammed?'” Judd said.

The victim replied, “‘No, I’m buying a boat.'”

Sheriff Judd said Lawrence and Richards groomed the victim to say that to the bank employees.

“These guys told her they will question you when writing a big check,” Judd said.

“Don’t tell them you won Publisher’s Clearinghouse because it’s a surprise. Just say you’re buying a boat.”

In the end, the victim mailed three checks to Alabama worth $477,000.

“Scammers are very good and convincing at what they do,” the sheriff said.

“They don’t call them con men for nothing.”

Surveillance footage captured Lawrence cashing two of the victim’s checks in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida.

When Lawrence was eventually arrested, detectives were only able to retrieve $40,000 of the victim’s money.

Judd explained how these cases are complicated to resolve because money is hard to track down.

“You go obtain subpoenas, and then the bank takes their time about getting data back. The money is gone, long gone,” Judd said.

The con artists appeared to have targeted the victim by using the name of the New York-based magazine Publishers Clearing House.

Like the faux sweepstakes orchestrated by the suspects, the Publishers Clearing House advertises prizes with magazine subscriptions.

However, unlike the phone calls allegedly made by Lawrence and Richards, the magazine’s Prize Patrol surprises sweepstakes winners at their homes, workplaces, or other locations, with cash prizes captured on video.

Publishers Clearing House told Business Insider that the best way to spot sweepstakes imposters is to remember that the company never asks for purchases, payments, or taxes and fees to collect a prize.

Lawrence is facing charges of first-degree theft and scheme to defraud. Police are still looking for Richards.

The Federal Trade Commission has warned people to stay vigilant of similar schemes.

“If someone tells you to pay a fee for ‘taxes, shipping, and handling charges, or processing fees’ to get your prize, you’re dealing with a scammer,” the agency told Business Insider.