PAMPANGA, Philippines – Police have arrested a woman in Pampanga for allegedly selling a fake winning lotto ticket.
Grace Enriquez, 53, was nabbed after she reportedly convinced Elmer de Guzman to buy the ticket for P15,000.
"Nilapitan ako, nagtatanong saan may lotto outlet kasi nanalo daw siya ng P150,000, tapos inalok ako na bilhin na lang yung ticket sa halagang P15,000. Ibinigay ko,” de Guzman said.
“Nung i-check ko invalid daw, hinabol ko ngayon atsaka dinala dito sa station."
Police confiscated more than 50 fake lotto tickets from the suspect.
The tickets all bore the same numbers.
"In fact, sinubukan pa niyang i-flush ang mga ito sa toilet kaya kung mapapansin nyo basa," Police Officer 2 Manuel Deocera of the Mabalacat Police Office said.
“Magaling magsalita. Offer sa iyo sa mababang halaga yung malaking jackpot," Deocera revealed.
The victim, who has not recovered his money, believes that Enriquez is a member of a criminal syndicate.
"Hindi ko na nakuha kaya tingin ko eh may kasama ito, sindikato. Huwag maghahangad ng mas malaking pera, matutong makuntento," he said.
Enriquez has denied the allegations. "Ako rin po ay biktima lamang. May nagbenta din po sa akin niyan," she claimed.
She is facing charges of swindling and falsification of documents.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Angeles City has warned lotto bettors regarding the scheme.
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