Fake Cops Use Well-Planned Scam to Get Thousands

Little Rock Police need help tracking down two men posing as police officers. Police say the two men are running a well-planned fraud scheme that`s already claimed its first victim. It started in May. A 74-year old man was robbed of his wallet, cell phone, and watch. He never reported it. But those items turned up in a manila envelope, when two men posing as police detectives arrived at his house around 8:30 Wednesday morning. "Wearing badges around their necks on chains, one armed with a weapon," said Sgt. Terry Hastings, LRPD. Police describe both men between 40 and 45 years old, one 6`3", 260 pounds, the other 5`9", 160 pounds. One wore a blue suit, the other a sports coat and black pants, both had badges on chains around their neck, one carried a gun in a holster. The pair told the man his possessions were found on a murder victim, and he`s the suspect. Then they asked for his help. "They told him they were investigating a bank and asked if he`d withdraw money from his account to assist them with the investigation," Hastings said. Afraid of being suspected in a murder, the man cooperated, withdrawing $7,000 from his Bank of America accounty, and another $500 from the Arkansas Federal Credit Union. "These two individuals are posing as law enforcement officers, wearing a badge, looking fairly authentic," Hastings adds. The men drove the man to the Pulaski County Sheriff`s Office where they said they needed to discuss the case. As the victim waiting in his car, the two suspects with $7,500 disappeared around the corner and haven`t been seen since. "They`ve worked this scam out and are good at presenting it. We believe they may try to do this again," he said. Little Rock Police say anytime you`re the victim of a crime, you need to report it. In this case, they could have started working on the robbery that happened back in May, and this crime could have been prevented. Anyone with information on these two men is asked to call Little Rock Police. The number to their Financial Crimes Unit is 918-3502.