Last week, four people were arrested in Clinton for allegedly scamming a woman out of over $30,000. Police warn residents to stay vigilant as an old scam, known as the “pigeon drop scam,” has resurfaced in Prince George’s County parking lots. This scheme often targets elderly individuals approached in public places.
In the latest case, the suspects, who reportedly have addresses in Alabama and Tennessee, approached a woman in a District Heights parking lot. They pretended to find a large bag of money, claiming they couldn’t give it to her directly due to serial number tracking. Instead, they proposed depositing it into an account first, allegedly to exchange the money without risk.
On October 25, the suspects were arrested in Clinton as they attempted the same scam on another elderly person in a different parking lot. Lt. Robert Weaver, who leads the financial crimes section within Prince George’s County Police, emphasized that urgency is a common tactic in these scams, typically involving an immediate threat or offer of quick gain.
Weaver shared that the average age of scam victims is 74, with most targeted in shopping center parking lots. The suspects, identified as James Davis (77), Connie Williams (64), Mary Daniel (59), and Kenneth Gooden (36), may be linked to similar cases across the U.S., including California and Illinois. Following the arrests, several other residents have reported encounters with the suspects, though none fell for the scam.
Weaver urges caution, advising that any unexpected interactions involving money or account information should raise red flags.
