(© FlaglerLive)
Schemers have come up with yet another way to defraud older, trusting people of their cash. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is warning of the scheme, staged by an older black couple at the expense of at least three Palm Coast victims since spring, usually in the parking lot of large shopping centers. They call themselves John and Sue. They have yet to be found.
Dorothy is a 78-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s B-Section. She had finished her shopping at Walmart and carted her groceries to her car. As she was placing the bags in the trunk of her car, a couple approached her. The man told Dorothy he was a Walmart employee and was trying to return a package left behind in a shopping cart. The man told Dorothy he had a small package filled with cash, and that he was going to report it to store management.
The man walks away, then turns around, comes back toward Dorothy and tells her: “We could have the money if we could show that we had the money already.”
It didn’t make much sense, but schemers aren’t into making sense to vulnerable people. The woman who’d initially approached Dorothy with the man then showed her an envelope, said it contained a large sum of money, and that if Dorothy could match the amount, she could get some of the money in the envelope. But she had to prove that she had the money to match it first, the woman told her.
Dorothy went to her SunTrust bank and got a cashier’s check for $8,000. Back at Walmart, the woman told her that the “boss” wanted the money in cash. Dorothy went back to SunTrust, got the $8,000 in cash, returned to the Walmart parking lot, and handed the sum to the man.
Dorothy could not describe the couple much other than they were both black, and that the man may have been wearing jeans.
Once the couple had the money, they told her they were going to talk to their boss and would return. Of course, they never did. They’d stolen Dorothy’s $8,000.
That incident took place in April. Suzanne, an employee at a store in the Target shopping center, was similarly victimized this week. A black woman had struck up a conversation in the parking lot about her windshield when the woman was joined by a black man who started repeating the same things the couple had told Dorothy, using the same figures: they said they had an envelope with $68,000 in it, in cash. If Suzanne gave them $500, they said they’d split the cash with her three ways. Again, it didn’t make sense.
Suzanne may have sensed it. She walked back to her car. They followed her–and got in her car, without her permission. The woman sat up front. The man sat in the back seat. The man asked Suzanne if she had enough money to “sustain” her for 30 days. He asked her how much money she had in the bank and whether she had access to it all. Suzanne’s answer didn’t satisfy them: it wasn’t enough money. They got out and left.
But she could describe them to deputies with some detail: The black man is about 50-55 years old, 5ft. 9in. to 5ft. 10in., 160-170 pounds. He was wearing khaki pant with a brown striped short sleeve shirt worn outside of his pants and a solid black colored kangaroo hat. He has a dark ruddy complexion. He introduced himself as “John Johnson.” He did most of the talking. He said the victim could validate who he was by checking at Ross, where he claimed he was employed. The black woman is 60-70 years old, around 5 feet tall, about 135-140 lb., with a dark ruddy complexion, wearing yellow pants, short sleeve pink shirt with polka dots. She introduced herself as Sue. She was carrying a Louis Vuitton bag.
The pair had struck yet another victim in the Publix parking lot on Belle Terre Parkway in June–same approach, same early-afternoon time, with a slight variation. They’d asked for just $320.
“It is a sad reality but there are people out there who are constantly dreaming up new ways to scam seniors,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “You work hard for your money; don’t be a victim. If anyone approaches you in a parking lot that you do not know claiming to have found cash, suggest that they call the Sheriff’s Office and if they won’t then you should. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
If you have any information, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911, email [email protected], or call CrimeStoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS.
For more information on crimes against seniors, visit https://agesafeamerica.com/crime-prevention/
TheTruth says
Sorry, but I wouldn’t have bought their crime story, but would have said lets call 911 and see what they say.
Pogo says
@You Can’t Cheat an Honest Person. Or Can You?
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/machiavellians-gulling-the-rubes/201802/you-cant-cheat-honest-person-or-can-you
B says
You’re still confused and hand over $8k cash? LMAO
Mary Fusco says
Sorry, but these people are ridiculous. I am 72 and it would be a cold day in hell before I would go to my bank and withdraw $8,000 for some idiot I met in a parking lot. Several months ago I was in WM in PC loading my groceries into my car and a woman approached me stating that she saw the stickers on my car of 2 dogs and a cat. Started with asking me what kind of dogs I had and then went on to say that her dog had been hit by a car and was at the vet, yada, yada, yada. I took my keys out of my pocket and kept a finger on the panic button. As soon as she saw that, she said have a good day and walked away. Scammers are all over, and it is up to us to send them on their way, not give them our hard earned money.
anon says
The 78yr old woman was NOT a victim, she was greedy and got burned.
Richard says
Sorry for the 78 year old senior citizen lady from Palm Coast who turned over $8,000 for pie in the sky. I had gotten taken many years ago when I was a lot younger and not as smart or experienced as I am now. To this day since then I haven’t parted with one red cent to anyone or any scammer. That incident made me penny wise and tough as nails. I refuse to hand out money to panhandlers too. When you do that you are only enabling them to continue doing it to others.
Ld says
Recommend Victim return to store immediately, not their car and ask management to report incident to police. Maybe management can spot couple on security video if they have a time of incident. Ask store employee to then accompany victim to vehicle for added security or wait for police to arrive.
Steve Vanne says
I just don’t understand how a bank can not ask question when a senior comes in and request a large amount of money at one time. Bank can be nice about it and say hey are you needing a down payment on a new car or fixing up you house. Plus people need to think twice. Call your son or daughter or someone you trust. Just a thought…
Mary Fusco says
@LD, these POS usually wait until you get to your car before approaching. I’m a rather friendly person but lately, I ignore everyone around me. I’m sick of go fund me accounts for begging, scams and those who try to distract you in the store so they can steal your purse, Sorry, but anyone stupid enough to go to their bank and withdraw money and give it to some fool they met in a parking lot is just as crafty. Everyone looking for something for nothing. Never works people. Wise up!
Agkistrodon says
Proof a fool and their monies are easily parted. And that greed stuff,….well I am not religious, but I know it is one of the 7 deadly’s for a reason………
Josh says
These “victims” are just as dishonest as the schemers and are more than willing to defraud a company. These people don’t deserve sympathy, they deserve a pair of matching silver colored bracelets.
Hammock Bear says
Both Walmart and Publix surely have security cameras in their parking lots. Hope the thieves are caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Lnzc says
Bank should try to hold them up until they get a cop to follow them
When withdrawing a large amount of cash
Neill says
Greed causes mental incapacity obviously.. The whole scam is whacked from the start. I cannot believe that anyone would take the bait. Sad.
Florida Born says
We did not have this problem till the people from the sleazy cities up north on our east coast moved here.
Dave says
Who would hand over that cash? Sorry but if these scams work on you ,you should probably see about being in a home or have someone else take over your financials. This is 2019 and these scams are old news ,if you dont know by now….
CB from PC says
Just the other day the Nigerian Prince approached me…
“A fool and his money are soon parted”.
What was true in the 16th Century is still true in the 21st.
Born and Raised Here says
That’s why I do all my shopping on line, and either have it deliver, or I pick up my order.
Dave says
Sounds to me like Dorothy had bad intentions of scamming WalMart along with here accomplices.She is obviously not a victim if her intentions were to scam money from Walmart with the help of what she thought was an employee. She gets no sympathy. Just another person trying to break the law for easy cash, she got what she deserved
Eileen T says
Dorothy needs to return to the Wizard and ask if he has another brain handy..for her this time. I’m sure my 8 year old grandaughter wouldn’t have fallen for that story. I say we pray for Dorothy because she’s either been living under a rock for many years or shes just lost her mind
Flaglersfinest says
Bonnie and Clyde back at it again lmao
Willy Boy says
Ah, The Sting. Cue ragtime music.
A.J. says
Something like this happen in the small town of Sylvania Ga. years ago to my Grandmother. I know of two other people this type crime took place against. Older people please be careful. The money takers are out there. Why take your money from the bank and give to a stranger. I know what I have in the bsnk, u do not know what is in the envelope.Shame. Money schemes are out there & it will get worst as Christmas time get closer.
Layla says
Haven’t most of you taught your children not to talk to strangers? The same applies to you and is meant to keep you safe.
Trailer Bob says
I hate to say it, as others have already, but these “victims” were making easy money their priority. No one is giving away free money folks. Wake up.
Northern born says
Florida Born, can only say what I’ve learned down here….bless your sweet little heart!
Northern Born says
Florida Born, well bless your little heart!
Geezer says
Many older seniors are of markedly diminished mental capacity.
They are barely getting by, and driving cars reflexively.
They are not “ridiculous,” like the commentator above states.
One day, you’ll be old (hopefully) and remember that Karma is a bitch.
theprintguy says
wait….what?? how on earth does something like this work?
Mary Fusco says
@ Geezer. The whole situation is ridiculous. A person has as you say “markedly diminished mental capacity” but can go to the bank and withdraw $8,000. I am almost 73 and have lived long enough to know that there is nothing free in this world. i.e. A few years hubby and I received many phone calls telling us that we have won an SUV for paying our credit cards on time. After several calls, husband called them back and asked how we could claim this “free” car. We were told that we “only” needed to send $3,000 for the transport of the car to our driveway. We almost died laughing and hung up. People who play into scams are usually scammers themselves!
NotBuyingIt says
No victims in this story; just greedy people doing the wrong thing. The wisdom of age doesn’t matter when the aged are scammers, too. Who withdraws 8k? This is almost comical.
Kayden says
I know this is a 3 year old post, but this exact same scenario happened to my 89 y.o. mother 2 days ago on the Walmart parking lot in Baltimore, MD. The swindlers talked her into emptying out 2 bank accounts and cashing out a credit card in the exchange for splitting “found money” 3 ways She lost her entire life savings. The entire family is devastated.