Two con-artist clowns have been arrested for scamming a 92-year-old Long Island man out of a significant amount of money by convincing him that he had won an $18 million Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes. The culprits, Oral Durloo, 31, from Brooklyn, and Brandon Nairne, 31, from Queens, tricked the elderly man into paying $250,000 in a phone scam where they claimed he needed to cover taxes and fees before receiving his supposed jackpot, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.
The elaborate scam began in December 2025 when the elderly man received a call from someone claiming to represent Publishers Clearing House, informing him of his massive prize. Despite initial hesitation, the caller assured him that a representative would visit his home with the necessary paperwork. Durloo and Nairne posed as these representatives and accompanied the victim to the bank, where he withdrew a sizable cashier’s check and handed it over to the scammers.
Upon realizing he had been duped, the victim reported the crime to Suffolk County police, leading to the arrest of Durloo and Nairne on charges of grand larceny. Judge Steven Weissbard released both men on their own recognizance at their arraignment, as their charges were non-bailable under New York law. However, Durloo remains in custody due to an outstanding warrant from Connecticut for unrelated charges.
The collaborative efforts of the Financial Crimes Bureau, Homeland Security, Suffolk County Police Department, and New York City Police Department were instrumental in identifying and apprehending the defendants. Both Durloo and Nairne are scheduled to appear in court in February for further proceedings.
In a statement, District Attorney Tierney emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who target vulnerable individuals, particularly seniors, for financial scams. The swift action taken in this case serves as a warning to others seeking to exploit the elderly in Suffolk County.
