Trio Wanted For Scamming 78-Year-Old Woman In Brooklyn, Police Say
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Police are searching for three men accused of scamming a woman in Brooklyn.
The suspects allegedly stole $4,500 from the 78-year-old victim last month in Flatbush.
Police said the woman was waiting for a bus near Lenox Road and Bedford Avenue when she was approached by a man on Jan. 27. He was joined by a second man, and they started talking about raising money for a church or charity.
The suspects allegedly gained the victim's trust by driving her to a doctor's appointment and a bank.
That's where police said they persuaded her to withdraw $3,300 cash, which she then handed over.
Five days later, a third man allegedly called the woman's home pretending to be a detective conducting a criminal investigation. He convinced her that money inside her home was evidence and needed for fingerprint testing.
Police said that suspect was able to steal another $1,200.
Sources told CBS2 the victim felt she may have been targeted because she doesn't have much family or friends in the area.
Investigators are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or 1-888-57-PISTA (74782) for Spanish. You can also submit a tip via the Crime Stoppers website, by tweeting @NYPDTips or by texting 274637.
