Post by Chattanooga Police on Dec 12, 2008 6:41:29 GMT -5
Chattanooga Police along with Sun Trust Bank Security are asking for the Medias help in alerting citizens, especially elderly citizens of a possible scam that is occurring in the Highway 58 area.
An elderly customer was at the Highway 58 branch on Thursday, 12/4/08 between 11:30 - 11:45 AM. He stated he was approached by a black male in the parking lot of sun Trust Bank who asked him for help. The black male told the customer he couldn't read and asked if he could read what was written on what looked like a 3X5 note card. The customer stated it appeared to be a receipt that stated something to the effect of $200 paid for rent, signed "Fool". The customer felt bad for the individual because he seemed mentally challenged and thought the individual may have been scammed since the "receipt" was signed "Fool".
The individual advised the customer he had a friend at K-Mart that could further help him and asked for a ride. The individual agreed to provide the transportation and when they arrived at K-Mart, the individual reached over & honked the customer’s horn 3 times and a taller, larger black male w/ a very deep voice got in the back seat.
The men spoke back & forth - the first black male in the front seat thanked the customer & the large black male for helping him and pulled out a large wad of cash & gave the customer & the other male a $100 bill. The customer refused to accept the money - the large black male told the first individual to put that money away because he didn't know them and he (lg. male) could take him behind K-Mart, beat him and steal all his money.
The customer then told them that he needed them to get out of his car, he had to get home, he gave them the story he was 45 minutes late and his wife would be calling the police. The black males stated they did not see any police, and after further persuasion the black males got out of the vehicle.
This customer did not lose any money.
A second customer also reported that he too had assisted a black male on the parking lot and taken him to the K Mart where they met up with another black male.
Last year around this same time of year this same type of incident occurred where an elderly gentleman was leaving the bank and was approached by a black male and taken to the K Mart lot where he was robbed of $9,000 dollars.
Police and Sun Trust Security feel these subjects are preying on elderly citizens, luring them to the K Mart area or another area with plans of robbing them or deceiving them of money they have withdrawn from the bank.
Please ask citizens to be on the lookout for these subjects around banks and businesses in the Highway 58 area and should they be approached customers should go bank into the business and call police immediately.
Lt. Kim Noorbergen
CPD PIO
An elderly customer was at the Highway 58 branch on Thursday, 12/4/08 between 11:30 - 11:45 AM. He stated he was approached by a black male in the parking lot of sun Trust Bank who asked him for help. The black male told the customer he couldn't read and asked if he could read what was written on what looked like a 3X5 note card. The customer stated it appeared to be a receipt that stated something to the effect of $200 paid for rent, signed "Fool". The customer felt bad for the individual because he seemed mentally challenged and thought the individual may have been scammed since the "receipt" was signed "Fool".
The individual advised the customer he had a friend at K-Mart that could further help him and asked for a ride. The individual agreed to provide the transportation and when they arrived at K-Mart, the individual reached over & honked the customer’s horn 3 times and a taller, larger black male w/ a very deep voice got in the back seat.
The men spoke back & forth - the first black male in the front seat thanked the customer & the large black male for helping him and pulled out a large wad of cash & gave the customer & the other male a $100 bill. The customer refused to accept the money - the large black male told the first individual to put that money away because he didn't know them and he (lg. male) could take him behind K-Mart, beat him and steal all his money.
The customer then told them that he needed them to get out of his car, he had to get home, he gave them the story he was 45 minutes late and his wife would be calling the police. The black males stated they did not see any police, and after further persuasion the black males got out of the vehicle.
This customer did not lose any money.
A second customer also reported that he too had assisted a black male on the parking lot and taken him to the K Mart where they met up with another black male.
Last year around this same time of year this same type of incident occurred where an elderly gentleman was leaving the bank and was approached by a black male and taken to the K Mart lot where he was robbed of $9,000 dollars.
Police and Sun Trust Security feel these subjects are preying on elderly citizens, luring them to the K Mart area or another area with plans of robbing them or deceiving them of money they have withdrawn from the bank.
Please ask citizens to be on the lookout for these subjects around banks and businesses in the Highway 58 area and should they be approached customers should go bank into the business and call police immediately.
Lt. Kim Noorbergen
CPD PIO
