The Masterton home of an elderly couple who fell for an overseas lottery scam and then borrowed repeatedly from friends to pay their scammers is finally on the market.
Trevor and Bev Oliver first promised to sell their Willowpark Drive property back in July last year after the Times-Age reported details of how they had fallen for a Ghanian lottery swindle, and had subsequently embarked on many months of hitting up friends and acquaintances for cash to feed the swindle.
The Ghanians had originally contacted Mr and Mrs Oliver on-line telling them they had won 850,000 euro ($1.3m) in a lottery but would have to pay money to cover taxes and fees before the money was forwarded to them.
The couple poured all their own savings into the scam and then tens of thousands of dollars they had borrowed but no lottery win was ever forthcoming.
Despite being told by the staff of this newspaper and by many others that they were being swindled the Olivers continued for months to send money overseas in the hope they would eventually receive the big lottery prize, but conceded if that didn't happen they would sell up to repay money they owed.
