Little Rock, Arkansas – A 68-year-old man from Little Rock is facing serious legal trouble after authorities say he scammed an elderly woman in Ohio out of tens of thousands of dollars through a fake sweepstakes scheme.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Ohio, David Nelson was arrested on Thursday, April 24, following an investigation that spanned state lines. Deputies said the case began in March when an elderly woman in Ohio reported receiving a phone call from someone who claimed to work for a sweepstakes company. That caller was later identified as Nelson.
The woman told investigators that Nelson told her she had won $3 million. However, before she could claim her prize, she needed to pay taxes on the winnings—an all-too-common tactic in fraudulent schemes aimed at older adults. Trusting what she was told, the woman sent multiple personal checks to an address in Arkansas, eventually totaling more than $89,000.
Only after the money was gone did the woman realize she had been the victim of a scam. Authorities launched an investigation and were able to trace the payments to Nelson in Little Rock.
With the help of the Little Rock Police Department, Ohio deputies were able to gather evidence and take Nelson into custody. He is currently being held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. Officials confirmed that Nelson is now awaiting extradition back to Ohio, where he will face theft charges.
“This case serves as a reminder that these types of scams are still happening every day, especially targeting older citizens,” the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
So far, there is no indication that other victims have come forward, but investigators are continuing to look into whether this may have been part of a larger operation. No additional charges have been announced at this time.
Officials are urging the public to be cautious of unsolicited calls involving large sums of money or requests for payment in advance of receiving any kind of prize. Authorities stress that legitimate contests or lotteries never ask winners to pay taxes or fees upfront.
As Nelson waits to be returned to Ohio, his case adds to the growing number of financial scams that continue to exploit vulnerable individuals across the country.
