Stamford Police Warn Residents Of Scams Targeting Hispanic Community

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford police are warning residents about scams they say are targeting the Hispanic community.

Police said in a news release over the weekend that during the last three months there have been reports of scams and subsequent thefts which have occurred near ATMs in the downtown Stamford area, particularly in the area of Old Town Hall at Atlantic Street and Main Street.

All of the victims have been older Hispanic women from Central or South America, police noted, adding that the suspects involved work as a team and include a combination of Hispanic men and women ranging in age from their 20s to 30s.

"A similar pattern is being used by the suspects in which a male or female will approach the victim and ask for help reading a doctor's note, or present a fake winning lottery tcket, or state they need money for some type of emergency," police said in a news release. "In some instances, the victims are shown what appears to be large amounts of cash by the suspects, and told if they help the suspects get more money, they will then give the victim a portion of the cash or lottery ticket winnings. In instances where the victims do not have cash, the suspects will try to get the victims to offer jewelry."

No matter the specific approach, police said the suspects will either take the victim's money or jewelry, or exchange the money or jewelry for a bag full of paper or small rocks, which the victims do not discover until the scam is compete and the suspects have left the area.

One suspect will often approach a victm alone, police explaned, and then be joined by a second suspect who acts as though they are strangers to each other in order to gain the victim's confidence.

Anone who has been approached in this manner should immediately go to a place of safety, such as a store or where there are other people, and call police, the SPD said.

Those who have fallen victim to a similar scam are encouraged to call the SPD at 203-977-4444.