Senior Woman are Top Targets for Pigeon Drop Scam
While anyone of any age can fall prey to some variation of this centuries old scam, perpetrators of the pigeon drop confidence trick now seem to prefer targeting primarily elderly single women over 65 years of age.
There are various reasons why this works when it is targeted against elderly women.
- sweet older ladies wish to appear helpful because it is the polite thing to do,
- often lonely, they enjoy the conversation and excitement of the unfolding drama,
- anyone's vision may be blurred by hopes of getting something for nothing,
- participants may become concerned that resistance will result in physical violence,
- cowardly scammers aren't afraid of being chased by someone in a walker,
- the elderly often carelessly carry larger sums of ready cash.
This crime proliferates because senior victims, who fear being labelled incompetent, fail to report it.
"Befriended the Vulnerable and Pilfered from the Forgetful"
- An Optimistically Early Tombstone inscription for Scammers
Although not quite as elaborate as the pigeon drop scenario, one two-woman team, eventually charged with felony theft, would approach elderly females on the street and offer to assist them or pretend to be acquainted with them.
Once they gained the confidence of the selected victim, they would distract her in order to steal her jewellery, credit cards and money.
Are elderly victims fooled by pigeon drop street scammers very often?
All too often. And the victims are predominantly older women.
Police, who had been tracking one pair of scammers for 1½ years, suspected them of five thefts in which elderly victims were tricked out of about $20,000 in the pigeon drop scenario.
One woman was conned out of $14,000, but was reluctant to come forward out of embarrassment.
Many victims consider themselves to be a very honest person who simply saw this as an opportunity to leave their heirs more money.
See also Pigeon Drop Scam, Jamaican Switch Scam, Latin Lotto, South African Switch, Credit Card Liability