Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Sep 27, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pigeon Drop Scam

Shreveport Police are investigating two incidents in which suspects show citizens a lot of money and hope to get away with some of theirs.

Police have received two reports within the last two days of con artists approaching the victims in the Mansfield Road area, asking them for a ride to nearby businesses.

In a case that occurred Tuesday, the suspects got away with one man's money. In the other case that occurred yesterday (Wednesday), the victim got suspicious and left before becoming a victim.

In the pigeon drop scam Tuesday, a white male suspect approached a 72-year-old Shreveport man at the Wal-Mart on Mansfield Road and asked him for a ride to Walgreens. Once there, they met up with a black male suspect, who inquired about how to withdraw money from a bank. The group then went to a local bank and withdrew money, and then went to the CVS pharmacy in the same area, where they conned the man out of money and left the scene.

In the attempted scam on Wednesday, a black male approached a Shreveport man (unknown age) at the Lowe's on Alkay Lane and asked for a ride to Willis-Knighton South. Once there, the two ran into a third man, who showed the citizen a briefcase filled with money and tried to con the victim out of some of his money. The victim got suspicious and left the scene.

The suspects are described as a white male in his 60s, about 5'11" tall with a heavy build; a black male in his 50s, about 5'11" tall and heavy set; and a black male well dressed with an accent.

Information can be left with crimestoppers at 673-7373 or by logging onto the crimestoppers website at www.crimestoppersshreveportcaddo.com.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews