Deputies say a Central Florida man who pretended to be a lottery official and zeroed in on an 81-year-old Merritt Island woman is now behind bars, accused of returning to her home and threatening her at gunpoint. Investigators report the con started with phone calls about supposed Publishers Clearing House winnings, backed up by official-looking documents designed to sell the lie. When the encounter turned threatening, the victim ran inside and dialed 911. She was not physically hurt.
According to WESH, 30-year-old Kason Dixon is charged with home invasion by false personation, scheme to defraud, exploitation of an elderly person, and grand theft. The arrest affidavit says callers told the woman she had won $4 million and even $7 million a week for life, then followed up with emailed paperwork that appeared official, including a fake Better Business Bureau congratulations letter, bogus IRS notifications, and a mock winning check. Deputies allege Dixon later came back to the neighborhood, posed as an AC worker at a nearby home, and confronted the woman in her garage while armed, demanding, "give me all your euros," according to the affidavit.
Local booking records reviewed by Space Coast Daily show a Brevard County arrest and booking on April 28 for a Kason Rashawn Dixon, listing a series of fraud- and weapons-related statutes. The log reflects the same general mix of allegations described by deputies, including exploitation of an elderly person and armed burglary, and notes that Dixon was being held while the case proceeds in court.
How sweepstakes imposters operate
Scammers often reach out by phone, email, or text to claim you have hit a life-changing jackpot, then quickly pivot to demanding an upfront "fee" or payment in gift cards to cover fake taxes or processing costs, the Better Business Bureau warns. The BBB and investigators say victims are frequently sent counterfeit checks or slick-looking documents that may even clear at first, only to bounce later and leave people stuck with the bill.
Charges and court timeline
Public reporting and arrest records indicate Dixon is facing multiple felony counts that could bring significant prison time if he is convicted. WESH reports the State Attorney's Office has linked him to two similar cases in Hillsborough County and that his next Brevard County court date is set for May 20, 2026. Prosecutors are expected to continue reviewing the evidence and will decide whether any related cases should be handled together as pretrial hearings move forward.
Officials urge anyone who gets an unsolicited prize call to treat it with suspicion, hang up, and reach out to the company using a verified phone number. The BBB offers a scam tracker and other tools to report shady contacts. Authorities also encourage neighbors and family members to check in with older adults and to contact the Brevard County Sheriff's Office if they have information that could assist investigators.
