Lotto gang surfaces anew

The notorious "lotto gang," taking advantage of the ongoing controversy at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), resurfaced and tried to victimize at least six lotto players in various parts of the country, a PCSO official said yesterday.

Israel Estrella, PCSO assistant general manager for corporate affairs, said gang members resurfaced in Camarines Sur, Laguna, Quezon and Bulacan but massive information drive has frustrated their effort to victimize innocent lotto fans.

"People are now calling us, asking if they indeed can win lotto jackpot prizes," he said.

The latest would-be victim was a member of a prominent family in Lukban, Quezon who was called by a supposed lotto official offering him the lotto jackpot prize in exchange of certain amount of money as payment for the lucky balls.

The caller then gave a certain account number and asked the supposed winner to deposit his money, which ranged from P6,000 to P80,000 depending on the amount of the jackpot prize.

The businessman, however, informed her daughter in Manila who in turn reported the racket to at the central PCSO office in Quezon City.

Estrella said five other would-be victims reported the incident before they can deposit money for the jackpot prize.

He said one of the supposed victims was already in the bank when he called, asking if he really won the jackpot prize. — Perseus Echeminada