SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 3 (UPI) -- At least four senior citizens across the United States have fallen victim to a 65-year-old man's scam involving an alleged lottery win, authorities allege.
FBI Special Agent Gregory Fine alleged in an affidavit for Kim Moy Hioe's ongoing U.S. District Court trial that the suspect informed his elderly targets that they had won the lottery as part of a fraud scam, The San Francisco Chronicle said.
Fine alleged that after informing his targets of their good fortune, he would ask for money to pay for related fees, attorneys and taxes.
"In fact, there were no lottery winnings and Hioe and others were intentionally defrauding the elderly victims," the agent alleged. "Hioe received funds from various victims and forwarded a portion of the money to Canada, keeping the remaining proceeds for himself."
Hioe was arrested and put on trial in San Jose, Calif., after an 81-year-old man in Placer County, Calif., informed authorities of the alleged lottery scam.
Authorities told the Chronicle that Hioe, who is facing mail and wire fraud charges, allegedly confessed in writing regarding the 2007 and 2008 crimes.
