The Attorney General’s Office is warning drivers not to grab a $100 bill if they happen to see one on their car’s windshield.
During the holiday season, acts of kindness are highlighted. Unfortunately it’s also a period when many police departments across the country see an increase in scams.
In Maryland, a new scheme involves tricking parked motorists. The Attorney General’s Office is warning drivers not to grab a $100 bill if they happen to see one on their car’s windshield.
Assistant Attorney General of the Consumer Protection Division, Karen Straughn, makes it clear the money isn’t a gift from an anonymous Santa, but instead is a ploy to steal vehicles.
The scam is relatively simple, a $100 bill is placed under windshield wipers of a parked car. The vehicle owner sees the money once they get into their car.
If all goes to the thief's plan, the driver will get out and walk around the side of the auto to retrieve the bill, leaving their car door open and their keys in the ignition. That gives the criminals the perfect opportunity to jump into the driver’s seat and take off.
The Attorney General’s Office has already received a number of reports about the $100 bill scam. Straughn remarked “This is the holiday shopping time. This is when the criminals are going to come out. This is when the scam artists are coming out.”
