Information Sought On Con Artists Who Swindled 2 Elderly Woman

TAMPA, FL – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying two men who conned two elderly woman out of money.

On Tuesday, Feb. 27, around 12:15 p.m., two Hispanic males approached an 88-year-old Hispanic woman who was waiting for a bus at 803 W. Waters Ave. and struck up a conversation with her, causing her to miss her bus.

The two men then offered to drive the woman home. During the ride, they convinced her to take money out of her account at the Bank of America, 3439 W. Hillsborough Ave., so they could collect their “lottery money.” They then took the woman to the Dollar Tree at 6303 W. Waters Ave. where they asked her to go inside and buy something for them. When the woman exited the store, she discovered that the men had taken off with her money.

This crime is similar to one that occurred Feb. 16, according to the sheriff’s office.

In that case, two men approached a 74-year-old Hispanic woman while she was loading groceries into her car at Publix, 2724 W. Hillsborough Ave., and convinced the woman go with them and withdraw money from her bank.

They then drove her to Big Lots at 7565 W. Hillsborough Ave. and suggested she go in and buy herself a drink. When she came out, she discovered the men had absconded with her money.

One of the men is described as 50 to 60 years old. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, black pants, black shoes and a black hat.

The second man is about 35 years old. He has a Puerto Rican accent and was last seen wearing a black shirt, khaki pants, black shoes and a black hat.

They were driving a maroon Nissan Rogue.

Anyone with any information on these cases of swindling elderly woman out of money is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 or send an anonymous tip from a smart phone using the HCSOSheriff app available on both Android and Apple products.

Image via Hillsborough County Sheriff

A surveillance camera caught photos of the two men talking to and leaving with one of the victims.