I am a 92-year-old Long Island man, and I was targeted in a calculated, heartless scheme that cost me $250,000 — all because I was made to believe I had won an $18 million Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.
In December 2025, I received a phone call from someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House. The caller told me I had won an unbelievable $18 million prize. There was only one “condition,” they said — I had to pay taxes and fees upfront before I could collect my winnings. I hesitated. Something didn’t feel right. But the caller assured me that an official “representative” would come to my home with paperwork to make everything legitimate.
Those so-called representatives turned out to be Oral Durloo, 31, of Brooklyn, and Brandon Nairne, 31, of Queens. They showed up pretending to make the prize official. Instead, they drove me to my bank, where I withdrew a cashier’s check for $250,000 and handed it directly to them. They took my money under false promises, exploiting my trust and my age.
It didn’t take long for me to realize I had been deceived. There was no $18 million prize. There was no Publishers Clearing House representative. There were only two con artists who deliberately targeted a senior citizen for a massive payout.
I reported the crime to Suffolk County police. Authorities arrested Oral Durloo and Brandon Nairne on charges of grand larceny. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney made it clear that criminals who prey on seniors will not be tolerated and will be held accountable.
A judge released both men on their own recognizance because the charges were non-bail eligible under New York law. However, Oral Durloo remains in custody due to an extraditable warrant out of Connecticut on unrelated charges. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 17, while Brandon Nairne is due back on Feb. 18.
This wasn’t just a phone scam. It was a deliberate attack on a vulnerable senior citizen. They promised me fortune. Instead, they stole my security and my peace of mind.