Con-artists swipe $9,000 from 72-year-old man in Montclair

MONTCLAIR, Calif. (KABC) -- A 72-year-old man was swindled out of his entire life savings by con-artists who took advantage of the man's trust.

The victim, who wished to be called R.B., said he wanted to conceal his identity, because the man and woman who he says took his money are still out there. He said the con-artists stole $9,000 from him.

"They got me because I trusted them," he said.

R.B. was in the Costco parking lot in Montclair when he was approached by a man, who said he was late for his flight back to Africa and desperately needed to find someone he could trust to take his money and donate it to a local church.

"He had $200,000 in cash to give to the church," R.B. said, adding that the man had the cash in a pouch attached to his belt.

The scammer explained that if R.B. would donate the money to the church for him, R.B. could keep $30,000 of it.

"I was excited. Being retired, I need that money," R.B. said.

Not long afterward, a woman walked up to the two and asked what was going on. That's when the scam artist started to frantically beg her to help him, too. But unbeknownst to the victim, that woman was in on the whole thing.

"When the lady appeared, they got my trust completely," R.B. said

There was one catch - the scammer asked both of them to withdraw money from their own accounts first - basically as proof that they already had money and weren't going to just run away with his money.

After the lady appeared to do just that, R.B. followed suit. R.B. said the man took the money from him, wrapped it in a handkerchief and didn't give it to him right away.

Police say that's when the suspect made a switch.

"There's a second where the victim isn't looking, and they'll change that money with fake money or newspapers or something," explained Detective Eric Ruziecki with Montclair police.

This is exactly what happened in this case, as R.B. discovered moments after he left.

"Oh my god, I was shocked. I was shocked," R.B. said.

R.B. hopes others can learn from his mistake.

"Don't trust anybody. I don't think I can ever help anybody again because of what happened to me," he said.

If you believe you were the victim of a similar scam or someone tried to unsuccessfully commit such a scam, you're urged to contact the Montclair Police Department.