Police: Scam artist posing as cop targets elderly in Tampa - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Police: Scam artist posing as cop targets elderly in Tampa

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TAMPA, FL -

Tampa Police are looking for a man who they say extorts money from elderly women.

The man approached his last victim, 91-year-old woman, when she was walking to a grocery store. He followed her to the house and said that her grand-daughter was a part of his fraud investigation. He said he needed to take all her cash from her.

She gave him $1300 and he quickly left, according to the police report.

Detectives say, he called the woman by her name and recited her address to her. They believe he tried the same scam on another woman last week but she called her family members to confirm his story. He fled empty-handed.

Detectives say he is in his 40s to 50s, medium build, with thin mustache. He wore a gray suit and drove a large four door car with white top and brown bottom. 

Detectives ask anyone with information about the man to call the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130.

Police say people can contact this non-emergency number to verify the identity of an officer or to ask for a supervisor.

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