BOARDMAN Woman loses $4,000 in scam

Two other women took $4,000 from the Poland resident.
BOARDMAN -- A 60-year-old Poland woman was scammed out of $4,000 Wednesday by two women who approached her at the Wal-Mart on Doral Drive, pretending they were going to split with her $60,000 from a lost wallet.
The woman told police she was approached by the first woman, about 60, who said she had found the blue wallet and didn't know what to do with all the money inside. The Poland woman suggested that they call the police, but the scammer said the police would not return the money to them if the wallet went unclaimed.
A second woman, about 30, approached, telling the Poland woman, "We should help her."
Bad advice: The first woman said she worked at Lowe's in the same shopping plaza and knew a lawyer there who could give them advice. The Poland woman drove all three to the Lowe's where the first woman went inside and returned, saying the lawyer had advised them to all chip in $5,000 as good faith that they would eventually share what was in the wallet if it went unclaimed, police reports show. She then said there was $59,000 and a bond in the wallet, and she would give the Poland woman $15,000 if she could come up with the $5,000.
The second woman said she had $5,000 on her. The Poland woman had only $40, but told the scam artist that she had $4,000 at home, according to police reports. The first woman said $4,000 would be enough, and she would pitch in the remaining $1,000 needed.
The Poland woman went home and returned with the money whereupon all three women went into Lowe's. The first woman said the lawyer wanted to see them one at a time. The second woman went through double doors in a rear part of the building and returned with a handful of money saying, "Look. I got $15,000."
Then, the first woman suggested that she take the Poland woman's money to the lawyer because he was very busy. The Poland woman hesitated but agreed and the first woman went through the doors with the cash, police reports show. She returned, saying the lawyer would meet with her in a few minutes.
As the Poland woman waited, she realized both of the other women had fled.