speedminded
01-11-2006, 04:45 PM
I'm sorry but how stupid can you be?
Pair con woman, 86, out of $773,081 in savings
By CHARLES YOO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/11/06
What the scammers told the 86-year-old woman they met at a Publix parking lot was sweet: We've found $8.5 million. Help us move it overseas to avoid paying taxes, and you get a piece of the pie.
Alas, she ended up losing her own savings instead, authorities say.
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/06/67/32/image_2132676.jpg
Atlanta police created this sketch of the woman who persuaded a Buckhead resident to turn over her savings.
"If something is too good to be true, don't believe it," said Sgt. Terry Joyner of the Atlanta Police Department, but "there's no doubt there's a greed factor in here."
Police are looking for a duo who swindled the Buckhead resident out of $773,081. Authorities did not release the victim's name.
The scam began Dec. 1 at Publix at 3434 Peachtree Road in Buckhead, when the elderly woman was approached by a well-dressed woman who introduced herself as "Jennifer Baker."
The stranger showed the senior citizen a pouch she claimed to have found in the parking lot — bundled cash and government bonds that the stranger said were worth more than $8.5 million. The woman told the victim she had an international financial investor as a friend and would seek his advice.
A few days later, the two met again. The scammer relayed the friend's suggestion that they invest the money outside the country. But first, the victim needed to cough up her own money to transfer the money out of the country to avoid IRS and customs. In return for her participation, the elderly woman was promised $3.5 million.
The senior citizen cashed her Wachovia securities and deposited money into three accounts. The bank was concerned and asked the woman whether she was absolutely sure about the withdrawal of such a large sum, but the woman, who had been coached by the scammers, replied yes, Joyner said.
The last contact was on Dec. 29. The victim never met the male partner, known as "John Goldstein," in person, but spoke to him on the phone several times.
"Baker" was seen driving a plum-colored BMW and an off-white Chrysler. She is white, 30 to 38 years old, 5 feet 4 or 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighs about 110 pounds.
Anyone with information should call 911 or Major Fraud at 404-817-6810.
Pair con woman, 86, out of $773,081 in savings
By CHARLES YOO
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/11/06
What the scammers told the 86-year-old woman they met at a Publix parking lot was sweet: We've found $8.5 million. Help us move it overseas to avoid paying taxes, and you get a piece of the pie.
Alas, she ended up losing her own savings instead, authorities say.
http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/06/67/32/image_2132676.jpg
Atlanta police created this sketch of the woman who persuaded a Buckhead resident to turn over her savings.
"If something is too good to be true, don't believe it," said Sgt. Terry Joyner of the Atlanta Police Department, but "there's no doubt there's a greed factor in here."
Police are looking for a duo who swindled the Buckhead resident out of $773,081. Authorities did not release the victim's name.
The scam began Dec. 1 at Publix at 3434 Peachtree Road in Buckhead, when the elderly woman was approached by a well-dressed woman who introduced herself as "Jennifer Baker."
The stranger showed the senior citizen a pouch she claimed to have found in the parking lot — bundled cash and government bonds that the stranger said were worth more than $8.5 million. The woman told the victim she had an international financial investor as a friend and would seek his advice.
A few days later, the two met again. The scammer relayed the friend's suggestion that they invest the money outside the country. But first, the victim needed to cough up her own money to transfer the money out of the country to avoid IRS and customs. In return for her participation, the elderly woman was promised $3.5 million.
The senior citizen cashed her Wachovia securities and deposited money into three accounts. The bank was concerned and asked the woman whether she was absolutely sure about the withdrawal of such a large sum, but the woman, who had been coached by the scammers, replied yes, Joyner said.
The last contact was on Dec. 29. The victim never met the male partner, known as "John Goldstein," in person, but spoke to him on the phone several times.
"Baker" was seen driving a plum-colored BMW and an off-white Chrysler. She is white, 30 to 38 years old, 5 feet 4 or 5 feet 5 inches tall, and weighs about 110 pounds.
Anyone with information should call 911 or Major Fraud at 404-817-6810.