WRENTHAM, Mass. (AP) — The pastor of a Foxborough church has been charged with attempting to scam four elderly people out of their Social Security checks by telling them they were lottery winners.
Ranulfo Luther Raposo of the Seventh-day Adventist Church pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges including attempted larceny and identity fraud. He was granted $5,000 bail.
Police say the alleged victims are in their 70s and 80s, live in Michigan, New Mexico and Arkansas, and are unconnected with the church.
Authorities tell The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro the 51-year-old Raposo convinced them to disclose their Social Security numbers by telling them they were lottery winners. He then allegedly tried to have their checks redirected to his own bank account. He never got the money.
Raposo's lawyer says he's the victim.
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