by Jack
Maybe you read the story in the E-R about the woman who bought the fake gold bar? It turned out to be brass and about the size of a pack of cigarettes. A sad story for sure, but there’s something to be learned from it. But, before I launch into my criticisms, if this person was elderly, then let’s just call it elder abuse by two swindlers. In that case I feel only compassion for the victim, otherwise I have a few comments!
The most obvious and most incredible part of this story is, it’s hard to imagine how anyone could mistake a block of brass for being solid gold? The victim was shopping and driving a car around, so she couldn’t be too impared.
Now here’s the scam: An older Hispanic man walks up to the mark (this unnamed woman) and asks for directions to a church – then, if by sheer chance, another younger Hispanic man walks up. He says he needs money for his poor, sick wife and it’s their lucky day because he wants to sell a gold bar worth $25,000. He would take a mere fraction of its value just because his wife needs the money.
The older man has no money (of course), but says this is her lucky day and what a great deal this is and how she should buy it! Being a gentleman, he offers to get it appraised – without the woman being present. And they all hop in the mark’s car and drive over to Target… uh, Target? The Target store…confidence men love to inject a little humor when they can. It makes the scam all the more fun.
So the old guy comes back in a few minutes presumably after some young girl at the costume jewelry counter has appraised it, and he says, “Oh yes, its worth $25,000 dollars!” (Would you have expected her to say anything else? lol)
Why they didn’t go in together was never explained, but it sure seems dumb…then again this whole thing seems dumb. Who trusts a complete stranger to go into a store, any store, alone with something so valuable? Geez, the red flags are really piling up here.
Next, they ALL go to the mark’s bank and the mark withdraws almost all her money. (A red flag for the teller who apparently asked no questions). They get the money and she gets the brass.
This sort of con reminds me of the old saying, “You can’t cheat an honest person”. If she had not been so quick to get her hands on the gold and take advantage of this poor young man’s situation she would never have been swindled in the first place.
Another thought: Letting these two men drive away with her – wow, what a high risk and stupid thing to do! Good thing they didn’t kill her. However, I’ve got to give a little credit to the old Hispanic guy who picked her as a mark, his profiling was absolutely perfect. Probably not one person in ten thousand would have fallen for such a lame con.
Note; When I worked check frauds as a detective, occasionally the crook would sign the check with something funny, like U. Ben Hadde or I. M. Fraudman. They know once the ID has been checked the clerks rarely look at the signature and it was their way of feeling even more superior to the mark. I’m sure picking the TARGET store was no accident and that they were yukking it up (silently) the whole time.
And the lesson you just learned is, a confidence scam or trick is always an attempt to defraud a person by gaining their confidence. A typical confidence artist either works alone or in concert with another. They exploit the human psyche for it’s greed, dishonesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility or naivete, and the thought of trying to get something of value for nothing or for something far less valuable is always present.
Sadly Jack this happens even more than reported and more so to women over men. Sunday night on one of those news-type programs was the story of a woman who had been conned out of $250k, (her life savings.) by a man who said he had millions to give her from an inheritance. There was also a doctor, who didnt want his named used, who had given these same con artist tens of thousand of dollars for the same scam.
The woman and the doctor were both very educated, but no match for these con artist because they didnt possess the equivalent street smarts. Most women are raised to be subservient to men and she may have responded to the persuasive powers of the older man. I actually had a man tell me once that I didnt have the right to say no to him. (Yes, it was the first and last time he said it.)
This woman may have been an easy mark or she could have been the hundredth person approached by these two guys. Well never know unless those that were approached come forward.
Most of us have been connedhadtaken by someone in our lives. Most times its monetary, but not always. How many times have we heard the story of someone marrying for money? While the wife or husband thought it was for love the real reason soon comes out.
There are really good people in this world, but there also those who are not just bad they have no conscience or guilt for what they do or who they hurt. Why even today I had a friend who willingly stood with me in what could have been a very difficult situation, with a man who after three weeks was refusing to give me a check he owed me. But, because he was there everything went without any incident. If Id been alone I can guarantee the results would have been different.
My heart goes out to this woman and I hope she has the love and support of friends and family to help her to heal and trust again. But, I also hope she learned she has the right to say, No! and walk away.
I like to run the scams when we find them in the hopes of alerting people. At least once a year I like to go over the most current scams and I know the DA’s office also likes to do this too as a community service. It’s hard to catch these criminals but when we do it sure feels great.
Hate to see anyone conned, but they’re certainly out there. Thanx for the heads up!
I was a travel agent for 23+ years and used to do talks regularly to clubs and organizations on travel scams.
One question I used can be used again and again if you’re considering any “deal:” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
J. Soden, you said a mouthful…thanks.