Phony Publishers Clearing Houses scams 92-year-old LI man out of small fortune
The pair orchestrated a cruel scam where they convinced a 92-year-old man that he had won an $18 million dollar Publishers Clearing House Prize. sharafmaksumov – stock.adobe.com
Two alleged scammers have been accused of duping a 92-year-old man from Long Island out of $250,000 by convincing him he’d won an $18 million sweepstakes prize, authorities said.
Prosecutors allege that Oral Durloo, 31, of Brooklyn, and Brandon Nairne, 31, of Queens, carried out the scheme by posing as representatives of Publishers Clearing House. They told the victim he needed to pay taxes and fees upfront before receiving his supposed winnings, according to a statement from Ray Tierney, the district attorney for Suffolk County.
“We will not tolerate criminals who prey on our seniors,” Tierney said, adding that anyone targeting elderly residents in the county would be held accountable.
Investigators say the scam began in December 2025, when the victim received a call from someone claiming to represent the sweepstakes company and informing him he’d won $18 million. After initial hesitation, he was told an in-person representative would arrive with paperwork to finalize the prize.
Durloo and Nairne allegedly showed up at the man’s home posing as those representatives, then drove him to a bank where he withdrew a $250,000 cashier’s check and handed it over, officials said.
The victim soon realized he had been defrauded and reported the incident to county police. Both suspects were arrested Tuesday and charged with grand larceny.
At arraignment Saturday, Steven Weissbard ordered the men released on their own recognizance because the charges are not eligible for bail under New York law, Tierney said. However, Durloo remains in custody due to an extraditable warrant from Connecticut on unrelated allegations.
Durloo is scheduled to return to court Feb. 17, while Nairne’s next appearance is set for Feb. 18. Tierney credited a joint investigation involving his office’s Financial Crimes Bureau, Homeland Security, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the New York City Police Department with identifying and apprehending the suspects.
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