Fayette residents are asked to be the the alert for a con scheme targeting elderly women in shopping center parking lots and grocery stores.

Typically the victim is approached in a parking lot by a con artist who has or claims to have a large amount of money, perhaps in a wallet or purse, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

Although the back story varies depending upon the con artist, in each case victims are asked to contribute cash of their own “in case” someone claims the found treasure, officials said.

A woman in the parking lot of the Fayette Pavilion fell victim to one such scam Wednesday as she was approached near the Marshall’s department store, officials said. In that case, the con artist was a black male, and he first asked the victim what should be done with the folder full of money he found.

The woman first suggested calling the police and turning the money in, but the suspect suggested calling his attorney for advice. The suspect then dials an alleged attorney and asked the victim to talk to his “attorney” on the phone who convinces her the money could be split between her and the con artist, officials said.

The person on the phone convinced the victim she needed to contribute $3,000 of her own money in case the owner of the money claimed it, officials said.

Although the victim had second thoughts at the end of the transaction, the suspect robbed her of the money by snatching it from her. As he ran away, a co-conspirator pulled up “as if on cue,” sheriff’s detectives said, spiriting the con artist away in a late 1990 model white Lexus sedan with tan trim.

The suspect in this case was well dressed, wearing a blue shirt, tie and brown pants.
Sheriff’s officials say Fayetteville shoppers have also been targeted in similar schemes.

Residents are asked to call police immediately if they are approached in a similar manner. The public should also be suspicious of any offer to “share” in a found treasure and never give someone cash or other valuables as collateral.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Det. Joshua Shelton at the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 770-461-6353.