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Suspect Defrauding Local Businesses

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	City of Tigard 13125 SW Hall Blvd. Tigard, Oregon 97223	Press Release October 18, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact:	Jim Wolf, Public Information Officer Tigard Police Department Phone: 503-718-2561 Pager: 503-795-2391 Email: jim@tigard-or.gov

Suspect Defrauding Local Businesses
Do you recognize this person? Call Tigard Police if you do.

Tigard Police would like help from the public to identify a suspect who has been allegedly defrauding local businesses. Tigard Police has information that other businesses in surrounding communities have also reported similar incidents. Police have obtained surveillance images of the suspect purchasing money orders at an area 7 Eleven. However, reports indicate the money orders used in the various frauds in Tigard have origins from a variety of retail, grocer and convenience store outlets.

The suspect is described as an adult, white male possibly early 30's with tanned skin, approximately 5'8" tall with a medium build. He has been successfully passing off $1.00 and $2.00 money orders to local merchants that apparently have been altered to appear to be valued at $200.00. The fraud continues when the suspect persuades an unsuspecting employee to negotiate the money order for $200.00 which typically involves some type of purchase at the business which further imparts validation and basis for the employee to complete the transaction.

In the five incidents reported to Tigard Police recently, the victim business is typically bilked out of $140 - $160 dollars returned as "change" from the transaction. The suspect approaches an employee and relates a preconceived story that purports prior arrangements to accept the money order have been made with a "manager." In the cases reported to Tigard Police, the suspect also produces a business card of the manager which further appears to substantiate the "story."

Tigard Police also obtained video images from one of the recent incidents that occurred at Bridgeport Village where at least two businesses were scammed within minutes. According to witnesses, it appears the same suspect was involved in both of those incidents.

If anyone has information as to the identification of the suspect, they are urged to contact the Tigard Police Department at 503-639-6168.

Do you recognize this person? Call Tigard Police if you do.