Issue date: April 01, 1998
@caption:Menlo Park police sketch of woman suspected in local scam.
Menlo Park police have released a sketch of one of two suspects in a March 19 scam that left an elderly woman $5,600 poorer.
The victim had received a telephone call at home from a man who claimed to be an "undercover officer." Claiming that someone was tampering with the woman's bank account, the caller instructed the woman to withdraw the money from her account and turn it over to a second investigator near the bank.
The money would be marked and returned to her account, he said, and the procedure would assist in capturing the culprit.
The victim did as she was told, handing over her money to a woman she later described as being white and heavyset; 45 to 50 years old; 5 feet, 2 inches to 5 feet, 4 inches tall; with short dark hair. The suspect was wearing a dark thick jacket (possibly police type) and skirt, with a gold-colored, star-shaped badge attached to the lining.
Similar crimes were attempted in Millbrae and Stanford on March 19 as well, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ed Estrada at the Menlo Park Police Department at 858-3300.
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