By NATE KING
Salina Post
Salina Police Department (SPD) and Kansas Lottery officials are investigating three unknown suspects for an alleged scratch ticket scam in north central Kansas.
According to SPD Cpt. Mike Miller, yesterday morning, June 6, a clerk at Rod's #2, 1339 N. Ninth Street, reported suspcious activity that took place the day prior.
"The clerk reported three male subjects came in and purchased $1,120 worth of lottery tickets on a credit card," Miller said. "That transaction was accepted. They then attempted to purchase another $900 on the card and the card declined."
According to the clerk, the suspects also purchased several cigars and then left Rod's #2. Miller said the clerk was suspicious about the trio's behavior and contacted the Kansas Lottery.
"Kansas Lottery said,'We've got a scam running around the state,'" Miller said.
According to Miller, the Kansas Lottery put a hold on the scratch-off tickets, making them invalid. At about the time of notifying the Kansas Lottery, SPD was notified that the tickets in question were trying to be turned in at the Salina Walmart.
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Before an SPD officer arrived at the Walmart the male suspect attempted to cash out his scammed lottery winnings but was unsuccessful. Miller said the suspect went to complain that the tickets were valid, and left shortly after learning the Kansas Lottery put a hold on the tickets.
"So we did some further checking and found out that these same male subjects were in Walmart, the day before [June 6] cashing in and returning several $100 worth of lottery tickets," Miller said. "We traced those back to a store in Abilene...and we've heard now that they made a major purchase of lottery tickets somewhere in Lindsborg yesterday."
Miller said SPD officers received surveillance video of the suspects traveling in a white, Hyundai Tucson.
The Hyundai Tucson is a leased vehicle, rented out of Ohio. Miller said SPD officers are working to contact the car rental company.
"I don't have any idea if we have bogus credit cards because at Rods they produced the first one, made the purchase... then they brought in a second card with the same name on it. So we have no local listing for this guy because the name is on the card," Miller said.
At this time, according to the SPD, there is no victim of a crime. Miller said
"We know that had several 'hits' on the car in Salina yesterday and through some of the FLOCK cameras around the state we can basically track the car a little bit." Miller said. "We've put out a notice across the state to be on the watch for these people."
Salina Post will update the story as more information becomes available.