Police warn local businesses about new money scam

Southeast Missourian

The Cape Girardeau Police Department responded to two incidents this week concerning an attempt to scam local businesses out of money.

The suspects in the scheme have contacted two area businesses by phone, posing as a high-ranking corporate manager, according to a news release from the Cape Girar-deau police.

According the release, the caller says that a disgruntled customer will show up at the store and instruct the employee to pay them a specific sum of company money as reimbursement for dissatisfaction with a service or product. The caller cautions the payment is designed to prevent a lawsuit because the customer issued a complaint at the corporate level. They then supply the employee with the customer's name, and someone with identification matching that name will arrive shortly after and accept the money.

Police said only one of the scams was successful, and the suspects got away with less than $200, said Cpl. Jason Selzer. Police advise businesses to be on the lookout for these type of "scams" and inform authorities immediately if an attempt is made.