Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

News

NYPD: Pigeon Drop Scammers Duped Old Lady Out Of $3000

Jen Chung

Published Dec 7, 2014

Modified Dec 7, 2014

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Jen Chung

Published Dec 7, 2014

Modified Dec 7, 2014

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Con artists are ruthless, happily targeting elderly people to make some fast money. The NYPD is asking for the public's help in locating a pair who got an 81-year-old woman to give up $3,000 in the timeless pigeon drop scam.

The setup, which has many variations, usually involves two con artists who approach their mark claiming to have found a wallet/bag/something full of money. The confidence men (or women) then lure their mark into an argument about the item's worth or attainability, persuading the mark that he or she can get a piece of the action. At some point it's usually suggested that all three put deposits down to prove they're committed to sharing the money. Of course, the other two people are in on it together and the victim is left with a worthless item and lightened wallet.

According to the police, last Monday, December 1st, the 81-year-old woman was outside her Astoria home when a man and a woman approached her around 8:45 a.m.

The suspects stated to her, in sum and substance, that they had found a large amount of money and that she could have $70,000 of it, all the victim had to do was prove to the bank that she had $3000 in cash. The victim brought the female suspect to her apartment building and gave her the $3000 with the suspects promising that they would return with her $70,000.

Police say the male suspect is a black male, 35, 6' tall and weighing 200 pounds, while the female suspect is 5'5", weighing 160 pounds. The cops also released surveillance video of the female suspect:

Anyone with information in regards to this Grand Larceny is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Tagged

con artist

grand larceny

pigeon drop

queens

scam

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE news

Are NJ schools unconstitutionally segregated? It's back to the courts to decide.

Mediation didn't resolve the years-old case. A ruling for the plaintiffs could upend how public schooling works in New Jersey.

Colleen O'Dea

Published Oct 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET

Early Addition: New Jersey considering a ban on chewing gum because of microplastics

Because New Jersey is just trying to keep its people safe, here are your early links: Early voters get a spooky sticker, Tom Hanks returning to Broadway, a time capsule letter to the NYC mayor in 2026 and more.

James Ramsay

News

Early Addition: New Jersey considering a ban on chewing gum because of microplastics

James Ramsay

Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says

Brittany Kriegstein

Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress

Walter Wuthmann

Jon Campbell

and

Brigid Bergin

Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors

Ryan Kost

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .