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NYPD: Pigeon Drop Scammers Duped Old Lady Out Of $3000
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 7, 2014
Modified Dec 7, 2014
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By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 7, 2014
Modified Dec 7, 2014
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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.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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