By Jeff Lipton
One man said he was approached by the con artist about four months ago in a Long Beach parking lot, in scam that lasted two days. The victim said the con artist identified himself as former basketball star Kenny Anderson and that he locked his keys in the car and needed a ride to a locksmith in Atlantic Beach.
“He’s very convincing,” said the victim, who added that he also looks like the former basketball star.
He said that once he drove him over the Atlantic Beach Bridge heading toward Inwood, the con artist asked him to loan him $300 to pay the locksmith and in turn he would receive $5,000 back from him the following day.
After the victim gave him the $300, the thief said he would call him the next day to inform him where he could pick up the $5,000, which would be wired to him.
The next day he met up with him again and asked him to take him to a hotel near JFK Airport and requested his credit card so that he could stay there.
“He knew he had me because I thought that he was Kenny Anderson,” the victim said. “He tried to get more money from me. I figured he was the pro basketball player and that he would make me rich.”
But this time the victim balked and refused. He then asked the con man to get out of his car in Inwood and he reported the crime to 4th Precinct police.
A woman who identified herself as Melanie, an employee at Central Lock in Lawrence, said the con artist came into the shop a couple of times in the past few weeks. He also identified himself to her as Kenny Anderson, said he locked his keys in the car and asked her for $40 for a cab ride. He said he would give her $1,000 when he gets back to his car.
“I was afraid that he was going to hurt somebody,” she said. “He came back in for seconds. He tried to get $40 from me. I told him to get lost.”
Detective Lt. Larry Feffer of the 4th Squad said investigators have received at least two reports of the con artist operating in the area over the last few months. He urged residents to be careful who they deal with. Asking the person to provide identification could not hurt, he added.
“Don’t take people at their word,” he said. “Be sure they are who they say they are. There’ll always be somebody looking to take your money.”
Melanie said she has heard that the con artist was working his scam along Central Avenue in Lawrence and Cedarhurst. She said she was in a deli in Long Beach and overheard someone talking about the same scam.
“He’s getting around,” she said.
Comments about this story? Jlipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
