Thread: IN, East Chicago: Pair steals $20,000 from elderly woman

Seems like I've read something like this happening before.
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Date posted online: Saturday, October 20, 2007
Pair steals $20,000 from elderly woman
Police say victim fell for 'pigeon drop' scam
BY STEVE ZABROSKI
Times Correspondent



EAST CHICAGO | A 72-year-old resident told police she was robbed of $20,000 in a modern variation of the "pigeon drop" scam Wednesday.

The woman said she was grocery shopping in the 4400 block of Calumet Avenue in Hammond when she was approached by a Hispanic female who said she had a winning $270,000 lottery ticket, but couldn't claim the prize because she was an illegal immigrant and had no identification.

A male Hispanic who appeared to be shopping nearby walked up and was told the same story, the victim told police.
The self-described lottery winner promised $10,000 each to the resident and the male shopper if they would both give her $20,000 so she "could prove to the lottery that she was well-established."

The trio rode with the 72-year-old to her bank in the 4700 block of Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago, where she withdrew $20,000 from her account.

The man said his bank was across the street, and he walked there with the alleged lottery winner and returned with a large envelope he said held his $20,000, the victim said.

The pair asked the victim to drive them to the post office on Chicago Avenue to get a roll of stamps, and to hold the envelope while they went inside.

They never came back, and when the victim looked in the envelope, all it contained was a bundle of paper, she said.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the anonymous police tip line at (219) 391-8500.

http://nwitimes.com

That's East Chicago, Indiana.

Originally Posted by WhatMattersMost

That's East Chicago, Indiana.

Appreciate the clarification.

No problem. Since I have been on this board I realize that there are so many states with cities and towns with identical or very similar names.

That should have been a RED FLAG when an elderly person wants to withdraw $20,000 all in one day. If I had been that teller, I would have begun asking questions.

I work for an financial institution, and we red flag an account when we suspect an account of an elderly person is being abused.

This is just sick what they did to that poor woman.