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FCC Reports


Kentucky Man Becomes Victim Of International Scam Save Email Print
Posted: 11:27 AM May 8, 2008
 Last Updated: 5:56 PM May 8, 2008
 Reporter: Elizabeth Dorsett
Email Address: elizabeth.dorsett@wkyt.com
21 comments
A | A | A

Richard Wray is returning home Thursday after traveling to Italy hoping to claim a million-dollar lottery prize. His children filed a missing persons report in his hometown of Florence, Kentucky and then officials found him in Italy, trying to get back to the bluegrass.

His daughter, Cathy Duerson, tells 27 NEWSFIRST he had been communicating with a group in Italy posing as lotto officials for some months and they'd scammed him out of thousands of dollars. She says he went overseas to claim his lottery prize, met the con-men and they sent him home saying they'd wire him the cash.

Wray's daughter says as a result of this scam he is now penniless, but she's just glad he'll be home soon. Her father returned home Thursday afternoon.

Duerson says her father is working with the Secret Service and the FBI and they're hoping to arrange another meeting with the con-men.
She says all 11 agencies that have been involved internationally are hoping for an arrest.
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Posted by: b blair Location: eastern ky on May 12, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I don't feel a bit sorry for the old man. Anybody that will fall for a scam like that needs to be beat out of every penny they have.
Posted by: dumb america Location: the stix on May 11, 2008 at 10:50 AM
I am not knocking this guy but this was about as smart as a wet potato sack is this guy a liberal.
Posted by: Steve Location: Lexington on May 11, 2008 at 08:32 AM
to c in fkt: the Attorney General's office can't do anything about it unless it's forwarded to them. Instead of putting it in your spam box, how about you forward it to the attorney general's computer crimes unit, and I'm sure they would investigate. Go to the Kentucky Attorney General's website for more information. What you said is like complaining that someone keeps stealing gas from your car but you never reported it to the police...if the authorities don't know what scams are running rampant, they can't possibly investigate it.
Posted by: c Location: fkt on May 9, 2008 at 02:01 PM
I for one think our US Attorney General and our local attorney general could do more to stop these con-men! I get at least two of these things a day, I put them in my scam folder, but it seems NOTHING is ever done to stop them. I replied to a couple and told them that if I'd won, then take out what they are asking me to pay from the winnings and mail me the rest! I never heard from those particular ones again. Perhaps, I need to reply to every one of them that way! That way maybe they would get the message: "I'm not stupid!I work too hard for my money to just hand it over to you"! Don't send ANYONE any MONEY for "prizes" that you've "won"!
Posted by: Larry Location: Lexington on May 9, 2008 at 01:14 PM
In the past week, I have won 6 Lotteries from England, two from Australia. I am RICH. Only problem is, it is a scam. People are too naive to believe they won something for nothing.
Posted by: nancy Location: paintsville on May 9, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Unbelievable!!!You'd think someone would be more smarter than to fall for something like that. Other than they never watch the news or keep up with whats going on...right here in our small towns of Ky. Or as my mom would say..(got more money...than sence) (cents)
Posted by: Jodi Location: Lexington on May 9, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Why are some of you so mean? Have you never made a mistake regardless of the cost. It doesn't matter if this man lost $1 or $1 million, no one should fall prey to vultures like this, and if they do, they deserve our sympathy, not ridicule. For those of you who have called this man dumb in one way or another, I hop you receive as much compassion as you give when you err.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Williamsburg on May 9, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Some people work hard all their life, and never seem to get ahead. Maybe he saw it as his lucky day and acted on it. If it sounds too good to be true, It usually is.
Posted by: Robert Location: KY on May 9, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Don't see where Ms. Wisaman's comments even remotely pertain to this story. Also, I believe it is standard procedure for some school systems to issue "pink slips" to all non-tenured teaching staff andd aides at or near the end of each school year. What they teach is not the issue, but the ones they wish to retain are rehired for the next year after the summer starts. Just maybe Ms. Wiseman did not perform sufficiently to be rehired for next year? Maybe she should take a serious look at her performance and fix her problems.
Posted by: Bart Location: Harrodsburg on May 9, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Note to Wow in Richmond: Learn to spell before you criticize others. The word is gullible, NOT gullable. Are you an atheist or just like to criticize those who might believe in a God?
Posted by: me Location: corbin on May 9, 2008 at 07:45 AM
as the old saying goes...if it sounds too good to be true....then it usually is! greed andloneliness will make people do things they wouldnt normally do. as does depression...this man isnt the only person in this world that has fallen for this scam. it's a shame that his family wasnt there to help him out and keep him from falling for this scam. the eldeerly need protection just asmuch asthe youngsters do!
Posted by: Big 'C' Location: Breathitt Co. on May 9, 2008 at 07:36 AM
I know that this man certainly appears very gullible but I still sympathize with him. Older people are often the targets of scams. They grew up in a time much different than our world today. Scammers have been around as long as there has been people, but never before has there been a way to reach so many like using the internet. I still believe in the old saying "fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me". I hope the scammers get caught and fully prosecuted. At least this man reported the crime to authorities. Many people keep it to themselves and the scammers will certainly get away with it that way.
Posted by: Bob Location: Lexington on May 9, 2008 at 07:22 AM
Wow! This is incredibly interesting. I'd always wondered what I would write if and when I felt the need to say something. I'm still not entirely sure how this will turn out since I'm composing on the fly. But, here goes... For those of you who have and are thinking about expressing your concerns and well wishes, we, the family, thank you. For those of you who want to use this unfortunate event as an opportunity to slam and demean a 72 year old grandfather of nine who suffers from Alzheimer's, we, the family, would prefer that you withhold your comments. The last few months, while this has unfolded, have been torterous on those of us who can still think and reason logically. I cannot begin to imagine how this will affect Richard who was widowed a year ago and now finds himself on the brink of bankruptcy. Please, don't presume to know all of the facts and details relating to this case. Please, show restraint in your condemnation of his actions. Thank you.
Posted by: shelia Location: pikeville on May 9, 2008 at 05:56 AM
dumb people r everywhere .. i get emails like this every day and spam them..... wake up dummy.. before you starve to death
Posted by: Wow Location: Richmond on May 8, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Something tells me this man aslo believes in the mass delusion of an invisible man in the sky. Some people are just too gullable for their own good.
Posted by: donny Location: ky on May 8, 2008 at 09:14 PM
people dont give money away they take money.dont any one ever learn? im a hill billy and im smarter then that. and im one of the dumb ones..i got more smarts then that..owell
Posted by: Bart Location: Harrodsburg on May 8, 2008 at 06:53 PM
I don't feel sorry for any of these people because the way you lure in a mark is by playing on their greed! That's the core of every con game. Offer them something for near next to nothing. Almost always, these people get what they have coming to them!
Posted by: freda wiseman Location: hazard kentucky on May 8, 2008 at 06:52 PM
May 8 2008 Today I received a pink slip along with 49 other people, all of which work with special needs students, predominantly in a one on one environment. It is not so much that a pink slip such be issued to so many educators during these trying economic times but that it occurs while untold amounts of money are being funneled toward the 2010 World Equestrian Games with a wreckless abandon akin to dumping sand in a bottomless pit. Are the 'Special Needs Children' not included in the "No Child Left Behind" axiom? Freda Wiseman "classified" employee
Posted by: Ann Location: Richmond on May 8, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Don't judge until you know the facts,This man is a friend of ours.He has had a realy bad year.
Posted by: Steve Location: Lexington on May 8, 2008 at 03:59 PM
You've got to be kidding me! There's a sucker born everyday, or so they say. And the fact that this was reported to the news and posted online where anyone in the world can see just assured the man that there will not be another meeting for the police to catch him.
Posted by: diana on May 8, 2008 at 03:56 PM
i get a dozen of these scams a week in my email do people really think you can win when you never entered come on
Posted by: Joey Location: Lex on May 8, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Listen up (edited) people; if you didn't enter it, you can't win it...PLAIN AND SIMPLE. And yes, I agree with Kim; nice work on not tipping off the con men...LOL!
Posted by: JoAnn Location: Owingsville,Ky. on May 8, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Hope people learn from this never ever give out your personal info.
Posted by: Kim on May 8, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Wow...hope the con-men don't read any local news stories from the U.S. because they might just get tipped off by this news report!!!! So much for a covert operation....
Posted by: duh!!! Location: KY on May 8, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Who gives away that much money just to obtain a prize from an international lottery??? Did he really think that it was legit???
Posted by: Sheena Location: Virginia Beach on May 8, 2008 at 12:10 PM
I just don't get it. I'm sorry this happened. However, WHEN will people learn? IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.....blah...blah....blah.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 8, 2008 at 11:42 AM
I'd love to hear the facts of how this man got scammed! Must have been absolutely brilliant to lure someone to another country.
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