Denver police are sounding the alarm after an old-school con left a far northeast Denver resident out $18,000, all in the span of a few bank runs. Investigators say a classic “pigeon drop” scam convinced the victim to pull cash from two different banks before the suspects vanished along with the money.
According to officers, the scammers claimed a pouch they were carrying held about $100,000 and pushed the resident to cough up their own cash as a show of “good faith.” Once they had the money, the suspects disappeared.
What Denver Police Say
According to the Denver Police Department, officers responded last Friday to a reported fraud at a home in far northeast Denver. The post explains that suspects steered the victim to multiple bank branches, had them withdraw $18,000, and then never showed up again after taking the cash.
Police emphasized the telltale red flags the scammers used: pressure to act quickly, an urgent timeline, and instructions to keep the whole thing secret, all meant to rush the victim into handing over money without stopping to double-check the story.
How the Pigeon Drop Works
The pigeon drop is a long-running confidence trick. Con artists pretend they have stumbled on a large stash of money and then persuade a target to put up their own “good faith” cash in return for a promised cut of the supposed windfall.
These scams often involve accomplices playing the roles of witnesses or helpful bystanders, along with tight deadlines that make victims feel responsible and keep them from verifying any details. They are commonly carried out in parking lots, retail areas, and around ATMs, according to community elder-fraud guidance. Resources such as Common Elder Abuse Scams note that older adults are frequent targets of this tactic.
What To Do If You Are Targeted
Police and consumer-protection agencies consistently stress that you should never hand over cash or account information to strangers, and you should refuse any request to withdraw money as a “good faith” payment for a supposed shared jackpot.
Anyone targeted is urged to call the Denver Police non-emergency line at (720) 913-2000, as listed on the city’s police page. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and report scams to the Colorado Attorney General through Stop Fraud Colorado.
For those who want to remain anonymous, Metro Denver Crime Stoppers can be reached at 720-913-STOP (7867) or through their website at Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
A Broader Warning
This latest alert comes on the heels of other local warnings about impersonation and cash-grab schemes in the region, including earlier reports of callers pretending to be deputies and pressuring residents for payment. As covered in phone fakers posing as Denver deputies, investigators continue to urge residents to verify any unexpected demand for money directly through official channels before taking action, as per Hoodline.
