72-Year-Old Woman Targeted In IE Lottery Scam, More Victims Sought

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has announced the arrests of three Colombian nationals who allegedly pulled a con on a 72-year-old Fontana woman who was out shopping in Montclair.

An investigation into the alleged scam began after detectives were told that on Feb. 20 the suspects approached the victim while she was shopping. The suspects told the woman they had won a lottery jackpot but needed her help collecting the money, according to the sheriff's department.

"The suspects gained cooperation from the victim" and directed her to drive them to her bank; the victim withdrew $18,000 from her account and told the suspects she had another $2,000 at her home in Fontana, the agency reported.

After handing over her money, the suspects gave the woman a package and told her it contained a portion of the lottery winnings. When the woman opened it, she found nothing but cut-up newspapers.

Detectives were able to track a suspect vehicle — a white 2016 Kia Sorrento — and the alleged scammers to Fullerton. Colombian nationals Rosalba Bernal-Sanchez, 60, Jairo Naranjo-Lopez, 58, and Kevin Prieto-Bernal, 21, were arrested and booked into Rancho Cucamonga's West Valley Detention Center. The relationship, if any, of the three suspects is unclear.

"Detectives recovered a large amount of physical evidence linking the suspects to this investigation," according to the sheriff's department.

Prieto-Bernal also had a felony warrant for burglary in Illinois and was on felony probation for burglary in Minnesota, the agency said.

Detectives believe the victim was targeted because of her age, and more victims may exist. Anyone with information about the case, or anyone who may have been a victim, is urged to contact the Fontana Sheriff's Station at 909-356-6710. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go wetip.com.