Elderly Woman Schemed Out of $11K in Walmart Parking Lot

A great-grandmother has a warning for you -- don't let yourself become a victim.

Police are on the hunt for an alleged thief who police say scammed an elderly woman out of more than $11,000.

The 79-year-old great-grandmother of six says she was approached by a woman holding a bag of cash on March 5 as she was leaving the Walmart in Warminster, Bucks County, Pa.

“She said her name was Gayle and she had on dark leather gloves,” said the victim, who did not want to be identified but wanted to share her story to make sure others don't become victims.

According to the victim, “Gayle” told her that if she gave her money, she would get triple the amount in return.

“She said that if I got more money and gave it to “Mr. Goldstein,” he would divide the money up,” said the victim.

The elderly woman says she withdrew more than $11,000 from a nearby Wells Fargo bank and gave it to “Gayle.” “Gayle” then told her she would head to another bank with the cash and soon return. She never came back however.

Angry and embarrassed, the victim says she didn’t tell anyone about what happened for months.

“I thought, ‘oh my God, I’ve been scammed!’” she said. “Why was I so stupid? Why did I listen to her?”

The woman says the scheme has left her in deep debt and that Visa has been asking her for monthly payments. She now says she hopes what happened to her can serve as a lesson to others.

“I just want them to know that they have to watch and be careful,” she said. “Don’t let them talk you into something, especially giving them money to get money.”

If you have any information on this incident, please call Warminster Police at 215-443-5000.  

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