Published: August 28, 2008 11:33 am            

Scam alert

‘Pigeon drop’ claim's man's watch, cash

San Marcos — Police say an elderly San Marcos man’s experience on Tuesday indicates that scam artists who target senior citizens are back in town.

The man, who police didn’t identify, was bilked out of a Rolex watch and around $200 in cash by two well-dressed black men who spoke with African accents.

“We don’t want to see it happen to anyone else,” said SMPD Det. Byron Mobley.

Mobley said the man, who is in his 80s, was approached while putting gas in his green Buick Enclave at the Sac-N-Pac at Moore and Hopkins sometime between 10 and 10:30 a.m.

“He was approached by a black male wearing a nice looking dark suit who informed him he’d just gotten into town and needed a ride to a motel.”

The man “reluctantly agreed,” Mobley said, and drove the stranger to the Day’s Inn. While en route, the stranger showed the victim “what appeared to be two large bundles of money, reportedly several several thousands of dollars.”

That’s one of the elements of the classic “pigeon drop” scam in which two suspects, who act as if they don’t know each other, are actually acting in collusion to rob the unsuspecting.

Mobley said the second suspect was at the hotel and, at the invitation of the stranger, joined the group. Again on the first stranger’s insistence, the victim drove the men to the “little” HEB.

He said it’s unclear what exactly happened next, but one of the suspects asked to look at the victim’s Rolex and he never got it back.

“It’s unclear how they got his cash,” Mobley said.

Mobley said the report was delayed in part because the victim locked his keys in his car after the encounter and then walked home.

“He’s embarrassed,” Mobley said of the victim, but added that the case should serve as a warning for residents to be on the lookout.

“It’s a warning for elderly people. They (scam artists) aren’t going to hit young people.”

The scam surfaces in different variations from time to time, though “it’s been a while since we’ve had any of this.”

He continued, “If anybody approaches you that fits the description and speaks with an African accent, showing rolls of cash and needing rides don’t do it. Tell them if they need help they can call the Police Department and we’ll be happy to help them.”

        

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