A 73-year-old Aurora man was scammed out of his life’s savings by a man and woman he met on Colfax Avenue, and metro law-enforcement agencies are urging other seniors to use caution and common sense.
The strangers engaged the man in a friendly chat near Havana Street on Oct. 30. They told him if he put up more than $25,000 to help them claim millions in lottery winnings, they would double his money, according to Aurora police.
Before they went into a bank together, the woman told the man that if anyone at the bank asked about the withdrawal, he should lie and say the money was for his granddaughter.
As the couple drove the man home, one of them switched his bank envelope full of cash with one that had only bundles of newspaper scraps, police said.
When he got out of the car with an envelope in hand, they sped off with his cash, police said.
Anyone with information about the couple is asked to call 303-739-6101. A Spanish interpreter is available at 303-739-6957.
Anyone who has been a victim of an unrelated scheme can call Aurora police at 303-627-3100.
How to avoid a con
Aurora police offered the following tips for seniors who might be approached by con artists:
• Good con artists don’t come across as “criminals.” They tend to be “smart, friendly, helpful, extremely persuasive and very skilled at earning trust.”
• If someone promises lots of money with little or no work, it is probably a scam.
• Phrases like “get rich quick,” “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” and “double your investment” are red flags.
• Con artists often move from place to place, making them hard to track, so it is wise to avoid any stranger interested in a money-making partnership.
• Involve a trusted relative or close friend before making a big financial decision such as a large cash withdrawal or changing beneficiary information.
