NYPD On The Lookout For Suspect In Citywide Police Impersonation Scam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNrvb0MerT8

The NYPD is searching for a man wanted in connection with a citywide pattern of police impersonation and grand larcenies that have been targeting seniors for more than two years.

Police say the suspect calls the victims claiming to be a police officer involved in an investigation concerning the victims’ bank accounts. The suspect states that he needs money from the victims’ accounts to assist in the investigation. The victims then meet the suspect and hand off large sums of money to him.

The first incident targeted an 83-year-old woman on June 3, 2011 in the 20th Precinct in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and since then police say there have been 24 total incidents — including one in our area, in the 78th Precinct, targeting an 80-year-old woman on April 30, 2012. All but one of the victims have been women, and all have been seniors — the oldest, a 98-year-old woman. The most recent incident, according to cops, was last month, on Thursday, November 21 within the 19 Precinct, in the Upper East Side, and the victim was a 77-year-old woman.

Anyone with information about the identity or whereabouts of the suspect, shown in the video above, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting your tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Police say all calls are confidential.