An elderly Louisiana man was tricked into driving with strangers and then withdrawing money from an ATM. This “bizarre” scam may have been the latest targeting well-intentioned older women and men.
Authorities said that two scammers claimed to be from overseas, and they convinced the victim to get into their car in Terrebonne Parish. Terrebonne is about an hour southwest New Orleans.
According to Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, they accompanied him to a bank where he drew an undisclosed amount of money under false pretenses. The suspects later stole the money. The suspects then returned the man’s car to him and took off.
In a comment to Fox News Digital’s report, the sheriff’s office called it “bizarre”, but warned that it could indicate how clever criminals can target victims to make quick cash.
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A suspect from Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana who allegedly robbed an elderly man of a large sum of money.
1st Lieutenant Blake Tabor stated, “I would describe it as bizarre for the community.” “I don’t have the information to tell you what other jurisdictions have done, but I know that this one is ours.”
“This could be a sign that suspects in this kind of crime are becoming more confident and changing their tactics. Tabor said, “I think you could certainly argue this.”
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Although a face to-face scam targeting elderly people is uncommon, it has been done before. In Bossier City in Louisiana in 2021, a couple allegedly conned the elderly into withdrawing money from an ATM .
A suspect in a scam in Terrebonne Parish. Louisiana. He allegedly robbed an elderly man. (Terrebonne parish Sheriff’s Office).
Online scams that target the elderly are more common than phone calls from criminals. A couple in Michigan lost $350,000 last year when they were notified by their computer that they needed to call a number. The suspect claimed to be Apple support and forced the couple to withdraw multiple times from different banks before transferring the money to a Bitcoin ATM.
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The local detectives stated at the time that it was “nearly impossible for trace” and would likely not be recovered.
An ATM that dispensing cash in Lafayette (California), Dec.22, 2021.
Tabor stated that the number of scams that his office has witnessed in recent years is indicative of how crime has increased in the U.S., but he stressed again that face-to-face fraud is uncommon.
It appears, too, that Terrebonne Parish’s crime was not targeted.
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Tabor stated, “I believe that it was a crime if opportunity.” “All indications point to the fact that they only saw the male and contacted him at that moment.”
Detail of a man using a smartphone and laptop to take on January 31, 2019, (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images).
Tabor suggested that seniors, in particular, be aware of scammers who often try to seduce victims before stealing their funds.
He said that the suspects target elderly people who may have a personal connection to social issues. “It’s business as usual for scammers to try and use information that taps into the heart or soul of the victim.
Tabor urged Americans to use their common sense when dealing with strangers, and to be aware of “red flags.” He also stressed the importance of not getting into a car with someone they don’t know.
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Tabor stated that the suspects claimed to have come from outside the country in the case. They claimed they were working with local charities. They want you to withdraw large sums of cash. They wanted to take him to a bank. These are difficult decisions, and we don’t want anyone to make them.”
This case is still being investigated. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact authorities at Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives at 985-876-2500, or submit a tip via CrimeStoppersBR.org.
