2 Men Posing As Police Wanted In $18,000 Scam Con Men Tell Elderly Couple Money Needed To Catch Bank Thief

Two con men posing as police officers are wanted for bilking an elderly northwest Spokane couple out of $18,000.

A woman in her 80s received a phone call May 29 from a man claiming to be a police officer.

The man said the “chief” wanted to talk with her, and another man came on the line, according to Sgt. Larry Evans.

The “chief” told the woman someone at her bank had stolen money from five accounts, including hers. The “chief” knew the exact amount in her bank account, which convinced her the call was legitimate.

“This was clearly somebody who did some research and knew what he was doing,” Evans said.

The “chief” asked the woman if she would assist police and bank officials in catching the thief, who was identified as a bank employee, Evans said.

She agreed to withdraw $9,000 in cash from her bank account and meet an officer in the parking lot of a nearby supermarket with her husband.

She was instructed to tell no one about the exchange. The “chief” said a plainclothes sergeant would contact the woman and her husband, and receive the money.

Evans said the couple never asked why the money was needed.

Later that day, the couple withdrew the money and met a man, who identified himself as the “sergeant.” The man showed the couple a gold badge. After taking the cash, he told them to go home, Evans said.

The following day, the “chief” called again. He congratulated the victims on their cooperation and said there was another problem at their bank, again involving one of their accounts, Evans said.

The couple told police the caller knew the correct amount of their money market account. The caller asked then if they would withdraw another $9,000 and give the money to the same “sergeant,” Evans said.

Once again, the couple gave the man their money. He told them the “chief” would call Monday morning at 11, Evans said.

When the suspect didn’t call, the couple contacted the Spokane Police Department, thinking someone at the department would know about their cooperation in the bank case.

The couple told police the man in the parking lot was a white male, 55-60 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, heavyset and clean-shaven, with well-groomed, short dark hair. Evans said banks and businesses never ask customers to withdraw money for an investigation, and people should be wary of any requests for cash from strangers.

Anyone with information about similar attempts to bilk people out of their savings is asked to call Evans at 625-4256.

, DataTimes