Detectives hope the public can help them find a woman who participated in a phone scam that targeted a Kips Bay senior and caused her to lose thousands of dollars in cash.
The NYPD released on Wednesday an image of the female suspect involved in the Dec. 22, 2020 caper, which began at about 11 a.m. when the 79-year-old woman was contacted at her home in the area of East 31st Street and Lexington Avenue.
Cops said she received a phone call from an unidentified man who claimed that a family member had been arrested, and that she needed to provide the bail money for his release. The NYPD said it’s an all too common scam used by con artists to swindle individuals, particularly senior citizens, out of their hard-earned savings.
Law enforcement sources said the caller instructed the victim to provide the money to a female courier, who would come to her residence later in the day to pick it up.
Soon after the call was received, cops said, the courier showed up at the victim’s home. After the victim provided her with about $5,000 in cash, the suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction.
The incident was later reported to the 17th Precinct.
As part of their investigation, police retrieved security camera footage taken near the victim’s apartment which showed the female courier walking through the area.
She’s described as being between 20 and 30 years of age, and wearing a light blue surgical mask, a blue jacket, light blue gloves, blue jeans and black boots.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at nypdcrimestoppers.com, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
