News Releases

Detectives Seek Public’s Help to Identify Suspect in Germantown Quick Change Scam

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Detectives from the 5th District Investigative Section are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect involved in a quick change scam that occurred at two Germantown businesses on February 18.

A quick change scam is when a suspect targets a cashier by paying for small priced items with a large bill. The suspect engages the cashier in a series of fast money exchanges prior to the cashier providing change for the original bill. These exchanges are meant to confuse and overwhelm the employee. In the confusion, the suspect tells the cashier how much money to give back, thus shortchanging the cashier. In some instances, two suspects work together and while one suspect handles the money exchange, the second suspect acts as a distraction to confuse the cashier.

On February 18 at approximately 6:20 p.m., the suspect entered the Pizza Hut located at 19823 Century Boulevard in Germantown, made a small purchase, and paid with a $100.00 bill. The suspect used fast money exchanges to distract the cashier and received change back for his $100.00 bill. During the confusion, the suspect also received back his original $100 bill.

A few minutes later, the suspect entered the Cold Stone Creamery located at 19847 Century Boulevard and used the same quick change scam to obtain change for $100.00 and also received back the original $100.00 bill.

Detectives are asking that anyone who recognizes the suspect in the photos or has information regarding these thefts to call the Montgomery County Police – 5th District Station Investigative Section at 240-773-6237.

The Montgomery County Police Department offers the following tips to cashiers and businesses to help them in detecting a quick change scam:

A cashier should place large bills on top of the cash register, the till or on the counter in full view, to better keep track of the money given to them.

A cashier should complete one transaction before placing a large bill in the cash register.

A cashier should verbally count the change that has been made. If the customer starts to barrage the cashier with requests for multiple transactions, the cashier should purposefully slow the transaction process down and manage each transaction separately.

If the customer begins to bully or intimidate the cashier and the confusion escalates, the cashier should stop the transaction completely, close the register, and call the manager.

RLG

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Release ID: 16-047
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: uncategorized