'Pigeon Drop' scam attempt in Clearwater - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Clearwater Police Economic Crimes detectives need public help finding the woman who may have tried to pull a pigeon drop scam on a senior victim outside of a supermarket in January.

Officers said, the victim was loading her groceries in the car when the woman identifying herself as the supermarket employee, offered her a bag full of money. The woman suggested the victim had dropped it and said there was $100,000 in the bag.

The woman then offered to split the cash, but the victim wanted to talk to police first. The woman left with the bag, officials said.

Clearwater police described the woman as in her 40s, about five feet and six inches, strawberry blonde. She used a name Hilary Dixon.

City officials explained that a pigeon drop scam is a scheme to defraud a person out of their own money suggesting to put up a "good faith" sum in order to secure the larger sum. The suspect then swaps bag of money for one with newspaper or something else of no value before leaving the victim, city officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Clearwater Police Department Tip Line at 727-562-4080 (ext. 2). You can also remain anonymous by sending information to 847411 (tip411) or through the Police Department website at www.clearwaterpolice.org.