'Confidence scam' costs Royal Oak man $13,000

Royal Oak man scammed out of $13,000 in Madison Heights

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – An elderly victim reported a "confidence scam" to Madison Heights police.

The man, a Royal Oak resident, was approached by a man (suspect No. 1) in the parking lot of The Home Depot on 12 Mile Road. The man was asking for directions. Minutes later the suspect was in the elderly man's vehicle, drove to a K Mart parking lot where another man (suspect No. 2) approached the vehicle asking for directions.

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The first suspect was talking to the man, building a rapport and gaining his trust. The first suspect said he had a large inheritance and would pay the elderly man and the other suspect $10,000 each if they could get him to his destination.

Suspect No. 1 asked both men to show a large sum of money to prove he could trust them. The elderly man drove to his home, removed money from his safe and drove the two other men to Hollywood Market at 12 Mile Road and Campbell where suspect No. 1 made the victim put his money on a table and told him to walk several feet away from the table as a test of trust. When the victim walked away from the table the other two men grabbed his money and ran off.

Suspect No. 1 is described as a black man, possibly of Jamaican descent, about 45 years old, 6 feet tall, 300 pounds with a shaved head.

Suspect No. 2 is described as a black man who said his name is Jay, about 45 years old, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds with short hair.

Police are looking for leads and asking anyone with information to call them at 248-585-2100.

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