Some grifters were trying the old "pigeon drop" or "empty wallet" scam on elderly targets in Queens. You know the pigeon drop: It's when someone claims there's a wallet/bag/something full of money and another person suggests you all put deposits down to prove you're all (you and the other scammers) are committed to sharing the money. According to the Daily News, "Looking for marks on Queens Blvd., the grifters left a wallet that appeared to be stuffed with cash on the sidewalk last month. [A 78-year-old] senior was walking to a bookstore when she saw the wallet - and was accosted by two men who opened it and claimed it held $300,000."
Apparently the wallet also had a note that said, "We hit it big in the third race. Give mom five or ten thousand. I'm going to Iraq." The woman was worried—she told the News, "There appeared to be a lot of cash in there and a note that led me to believe it had something to do with terrorism"—and wanted to take the wallet to the police. But one of the men claimed to be a lawyer and convinced her to go to an office, where they said she could get her cut if she offered a "good faith" deposit. The woman opted to go to the police, who later found the two men, Hiram Whitener, 69, of Spartanburg, S.C., and Charlet Merrit, 56, trying to scam another elderly woman.
eHow has tips on how to recognize the pigeon drop scam. Other popular scams include the "you broke my glasses" routine and the "mystery shopper" bit.
