By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE – Police wants area businesses to be aware of a con artist who asks a cashier for change, then confuses the cashier into leaving him richer.
Photos of the man, taken from store surveillance video from Dollar Depot, 18550 Allen Road, were supplied to police for distribution. The man, described as Arabic, wore a gold suit jacket.
At 2:40 p.m. Oct. 9 the man asked the cashier to exchange two $100 bills for 20s. He then asked for 10s, and then 5s. He changed his request several times, confusing the clerk, and leaving the store with an extra $100.
In a common form of the con, known as “change raising,” the “quick change artist” asks for change, taking bills back and forth, while simultaneously confusing the person about how much money is actually being exchanged.
(Sue Suchyta can be reached at [email protected])