Two reports of scams Tuesday that totaled $11,000 and targeted the elderly could be connected, according to Gainesville Police.
In one case, a woman was convinced to make a withdrawal from her bank account after another woman, with an official-looking police badge, told her the account was in jeopardy, according to a GPD release.
A relative called police, who found the two women in a car leaving a bank on Southwest Fifth Avenue, GPD spokeswoman Summer Hallett said.
Kathryn Hopkins, 46, was arrested on charges of impersonating an officer, exploiting the elderly, grand theft and scheme to defraud. The money was recovered, but Hallett said the scam could have been avoided.
"No officer or banking institution will approach a person by walking up to their home," she said. "Normally people notify (the police) about an issue, not the other way around."
Police believe Hopkins was also involved in a second report, which has not been solved, Hallett said.
In that case, a woman and a man approached an elderly woman and said they found a wallet with $60,000 in it and were willing to give her $18,000 in exchange for $3,000 up front, a GPD news release stated.
The victims' names were not available. Hallett said she suspects more cases might be reported once people hear about the scams.
Elderly people are a common target for scam artists, Hallett said, but anyone could be at risk.
