An international lottery scam group allegedly thought it was sending a courier to collect $473,000 from a vulnerable elderly woman in Omaha. Douglas County deputies say the “victim” was actually part of a law enforcement setup.
WOWT reported that Kerwin Kerr, 46, and Shanna Kerr, 44, both from East St. Louis, Illinois, were arrested Tuesday during a Douglas County law enforcement operation near 129th Street and West Maple Road in Omaha.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said investigators learned of the alleged scam after a social-media profile that appeared to belong to a single wealthy elderly woman was contacted on June 24. A sheriff’s office spokesperson told WOWT that the “victim” in the operation was fictional and that the posts were made through an account set up by a confidential informant.
Investigators said the scammer claimed to be a CIA agent connected to the “American Cash Awards Mega Millions Sweepstakes Lottery Company.” The profile was told it needed to pay $473,000 in fees and taxes to collect prize winnings.
Deputies Say The Scam Group Sent A Courier To Omaha
According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office account reported by WOWT and KFAB, the person claiming to be connected to the lottery company told the supposed victim that a CIA agent named “Kahreem” would meet her in a parking lot near 129th Street and West Maple Road at about 10:30 a.m. on June 30.
The courier was supposed to use the code word “Kahreem” and collect the money, according to KFAB’s summary of the sheriff’s office release.
Deputies with the sheriff’s Special Operations Group set up surveillance in the parking lot while an investigator posed as the victim. The operation also involved the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division and Homeland Security Investigations agents.
When the man later identified as Kerwin Kerr arrived, identified himself to the person posing as the victim, and took possession of a box containing the money, deputies took him into custody, according to the sheriff’s office account.
His Wife Was Also Taken Into Custody
Deputies said Shanna Kerr was in the vehicle and was also taken into custody. Authorities searched the vehicle and reported finding a loaded handgun, marijuana, U.S. currency, and Jamaican currency.
WOWT reported that both suspects are facing charges of conspiring to commit a felony. Kerwin Kerr is also facing a weapons charge.
News Channel Nebraska reported that Kerwin Kerr was booked on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a Class II felony and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. Shanna Kerr was booked on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a Class II felony.
The charges are allegations.
Sheriff Says The Courier Pickup Made The Case Different
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson told WOWT that many scams move money through cryptocurrency kiosks, but this case involved a physical courier sent to pick up the money.
“What’s unique about this case is that instead of the money from the victims going to an ATM Bitcoin cryptocurrency kiosk, the scam group actually sent a physical human courier to pick up the money,” Hanson told the station.
The sheriff also told WOWT that investigators moved quickly because they had an opportunity to make arrests when the courier came to collect the money.
Authorities are concerned there may be additional victims. Hanson told WOWT that elaborate scam groups often victimize many people across the country, not only in one local area.
Real Prizes Do Not Require Upfront Fees
The alleged script in the Omaha sting follows a common lottery-scam pattern: a person is told they won a major prize, but must first pay taxes, fees, insurance, customs costs, or processing charges before receiving the money.
The Federal Trade Commission says real prizes are free. The agency says that if someone says a person must pay fees, taxes, shipping, handling, processing fees, or customs duties to collect a prize, it is a scam.
The FBI has also warned older adults about lottery fraud. In one public warning, the agency said people should not pay money to collect supposed lottery or sweepstakes winnings because legitimate sweepstakes do not require winners to pay insurance, taxes, or shipping and handling fees before receiving a prize.
That applies even when the caller claims to be connected to law enforcement, a government agency, a lottery company, a bank, or a courier. A real government agency will not send a secret courier to collect cash in a parking lot so someone can unlock prize winnings.
Families Should Check What Social Profiles Reveal
The Omaha case also shows how public-facing social media can make a target look more attractive to scammers. Deputies said the profile appeared to show a single vulnerable adult with wealth.
Older adults and their families should review what is public on social accounts, including posts about being widowed, living alone, selling property, receiving an inheritance, retiring, traveling, or having adult children out of state.
Anyone who receives a prize message should stop before calling back, clicking links, sending money, buying gift cards, using a Bitcoin machine, or meeting a courier. They should call a trusted family member, contact local law enforcement, or verify the company through an official website.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson encouraged anyone in the area who thinks they may be dealing with a scammer to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office scam line at 402-444-7226. People outside Douglas County can report similar scams to local police, the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.