CTV News investigated into a Facebook page allegedly belonging to the winner of the largest lotto prize ever awarded in British Columbia. The investigation has led to the account being suspended as it was an attempt to scam individuals via cryptocurrency.
Christine Lauzon is a real Burnaby woman, who really claimed a $70-million Lotto Max prize in October.
A Facebook page in Lauzon’s name popped up shortly after and began posting promises of free money to anyone who could demonstrate the need.
When CTV News learned of the page and contacted the B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the agency reached out to Lauzon, who confirmed the account using her name and photo was a fake.
A post on the imposter page said “I have volunteerily decided to help people financially.”
A woman in Fiji, replied to the post asking for $1,000 to fix her roof because it leaked when it rained.
The scammer running the fake Facebook page offered to send the woman $100,000, but only if she would deposit $300 in a Bitcoin wallet first.
Luckily CTV News contacted the potential victim before she sent the $300 to inform her that the offer was not legitimate.
The potential victim said to CTV News “I was really happy because nobody has ever offered me that amount of money before.”
“It’s unfortunate that someone targeted an individual in that way,” BCLC said in a statement.
“BCLC cares deeply about our players and we encourage them to contact us if they have questions or concerns. Where there is suspected criminal activity, we advise them to contact police.”
When Facebook was contacted about the page, the social media giant took immediate action.
Facebook said in a statement “thanks for reaching out. Upon review of this account, we’ve removed it for violating our Community Standards for misrepresentation.”
CTV News reported that “Travis Shawcross, CEO of Ontario health-care company Pioneer Health Care, saw the CTV News story about the attempted scam and wanted to do something for the potential victim in Fiji who still didn’t have the money for the repairs to her house.”
“I said, ‘Well, you know, it’s a thousand bucks. If that’s going to fix her roof and she’s going to be happy, I’ll be more than happy to do it.’ So, that’s what I did,” Shawcross said.
The woman is going to fix her roof with the money Shawcross sent.
“He helped me. He already sent me the money. A thousand dollars to help rebuild my house,”
“And I’m so glad and happy for Mr. Travis’s help.”
The woman was confused on why Mr. Travis decided to be so generous with a complete stranger on the other side of the world, Shawcross said he can relate to the feeling of needing a little help.
“I’ve had nothing before. I know what it’s like to have nothing. In 2005, I was in a shelter in Surrey. I lived there for a month because I had nothing and I was trying to get back on my feet,” he said. “Through whatever decisions I’ve made over the last 18 years, I’ve become very successful. I’ve been very blessed and now it’s time for me to give back.”
His generosity has restored one stranger’s faith in the kindness of Canadians.
This article was originally sourced by www.ctvnews.ca.
