Woman bilks bar patrons out of thousands

By the Associated Press

Published August 20, 2002

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- A slender, bright-eyed blonde has used her good looks and a bogus tale
of woe to bilk Oceanfront bar patrons out of more than $20,000, federal agents said.

They are calling it the "Barbie scam."

Here's how it works: The woman approaches a man and says she's broke but her father will be wiring money to her in a few days. She asks if the man can cash a check for her in the meantime. He complies,depositing the check into his bank account and withdrawing cash for the woman, and the check turns out to be counterfeit.

In one case, a victim lost $4,700.

"This is the first time we've seen a situation like this in Hampton Roads," Larry Kumjian,resident agent in charge of the Norfolk office of the U.S. Secret Service, said Tuesday.

The woman has used the name Kelly and provided phony identifications from North Carolina and other states.

Eller said the last counterfeit check was passed in late July, so the woman may have left town. He said she could be traveling the country committing the scam. Eller sent word to police agencies along the East Coast, but the woman has not been caught.

Copyright © 2002, Daily Press