Beware!  See the following message from Captain Cody, 104th Precinct.  Please pass this on, particularly to your Hispanic neighbors/friends.
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There is a street scam you should know about vs elderly, mainly Hispanic females. A male and female approach and discuss lottery ticket winning and offer to split-standard con but sometimes with a twist - if the mark (victim) resists they will say they have a gun threaten to shoot and either tell mark to give up jewelry or walk them into residence and do same.  It happened 2X in Ridgewood and Glendale over past month.

None thus far in Cometland but its a city wide pattern.

Again mark/vic is mainly Hispanic as the entire scam is based on lottery winnings and conducted in Spanish but I just want you to be aware they could target any elderly person.

We were just advised by a COMET member that the con man, who has been going to homes to try to get money for his mother's prescriptions, just hit again.  Please pass this on to your neighbors and e-mail everyone you know!!!   The incident occurred this morning at 8:00 am in the vicinity of Fresh Pond Road/60th Road in Maspeth.  The victim, who forked over $40, is too embarrassed to come forward and refuses to make a police report.  The person who told our COMET member will continue to urge the victim to make a report or at the very least contact Council Member Elizabeth Crowley's office so maybe her staff can urge her to make a report.   The con man had "salt & pepper hair" which matches the description given by our Elmhurst member.!  Call 911 if you spot him ringing doorbells and tell the 911 operator that he matches the description of an individual who is conning residents.  Don't forget to be prepared to give a description, height, weight, ethnicity, clothing, etc.   One of our members e-mailed me and said he has a camera by his door and will snap the perpetrators photo if he rings his bell.  Great idea!!

At our Monday COMET meeting someone told us about a neighbor who answered their doorbell and spoke to a male who stated his mother lived a couple of houses down and needed medication.  He told them he dropped the prescription off at the drugstore but needed more money.  The COMET member said his neighbor forked over $100.  This con man has been making his rounds in Maspeth and Elmhurst - we haven't heard from anyone in Winfield yet.   

On Tuesday, the day after our meeting, the doorbell of one of our Elmhurst members was rung at 11:20 pm.  The male said his name was "Ron" and his mom, who lived a few doors down (he gave the address and our member knew who lived there and it wasn't an elderly woman) was in dire need of medication.  He said he had to pick up the prescription which cost $212.  He pulled out some money with a $20 bill on top and said all he needed was an additional $37.  He even went as far as showing her ID but conveniently had his fingers over the info.  The COMET member politely said "no" and watched him calmly walk away and turn onto Van Horn Street heading to 54th Avenue.  As soon as she left she called 911.  The 110th did a canvas but did not find the individual. Here's his description:  male white, salt and pepper hair, mid 30's to early 40's, 5'6" to 5'7".  

Please alert all your neighbors about this scam.  If someone rings their bell they need to keep their security door locked.  Try to get an accurate description, watch to see what direction the perpetrator went, look to see if a vehicle is involved and call 911 immediately.  Obviously this guy is getting money from folks because he keeps coming back.  Let us know if you hear of any more incidents so we can let folks know.  Thanks.