VB police warn of parking lot scam

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Scam artists have been working two Town Center-area parking lots, and police are warning residents to beware.

In the scam, the victim is approached by two men claiming to be having car trouble and needing a ride to the auto-parts store. After the victim gives the pair a ride to the store, they emerge claiming that the store cannot accept large bills.

The con men then convince the victim to loan them some smaller bills to make the purchase. To end the scam, the victim gives the con men a ride "home" to an apartment building but the con men never re-emerge to repay the loan.

The scam was most recently run on Nov. 2 outside the Barnes & Noble bookstore at 4485 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach police said. The scam has been run at the same place earlier this fall, and in the past outside the Best Buy at 217 Independence Blvd.

The first suspect is described as a black man, 35-45 years of age, 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall, unshaven, and with a gold-capped tooth in front. The second suspect is described as as black man, 35-45 years old, and 5 feet 10 inches tall. Police describe both men and friendly and well-spoken.