As a criminal defense attorney in Southaven, I’ve been asked frequently about a recent crime that has hit Horn Lake, Mississippi.
The crime? One Horn Lake resident claims to be the victim of a “pigeon drop,” according to an article from WMC-TV.
What is a pigeon drop, you ask? The term refers to a scam that often leads to theft. It is a confidence trick in which a person—known as the “pigeon” in this situation—is persuaded to give up some money in order to secure the rights to a larger or more valuable object.
After the drop has been made, the scammers make off with the money, leaving the victim with nothing.
In the process, the thief puts his money with the pigeon’s money, seemingly entrusting the victim with the large total sum. In reality, however, the money is actually never given to the pigeon, who is instead given a switched bag (usually full of newspapers or other worthless material). Through a series of theatrics, the pigeon often has the chance to make off with what he or she believes is the large sum but is in fact running away from the thief.
This past February, a Horn Lake man in Kroger fell victim to a pigeon drop. The suspects offered to pay him a large amount of money if he would hold a bag full of cash while they “went to meet some girls at a hotel.”
To keep the pigeon honest, the victim was asked to put some of his own money in the bag as well.
After the suspects left, the victim looked into the bag, discovering that the cash—and his money—was gone.
Police advise you to be aware of anyone approaching you with a deal that seems just too good to be true.
If you have been charged with committing a pigeon drop scam or other theft crime in Northern Mississippi or the Memphis metro area, chances are few people are on your side. Reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to review your options.
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