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2 Men Scammed Helpful College Student, Police Say

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 2, 2008

TAMPA - When the man with the African accent asked for help, University of Tampa senior Sean Collins did what he thought was the right thing.

But it turned out Collins was being conned, and the man seeking help and another person robbed Collins of his money and a laptop Wednesday night, Tampa police said today.

"After this, I really do view society differently," said Collins, 23. "You have to be on your guard at all times."

The incident started at 7:53 p.m. Wednesday when the man with the accent approached Collins.

According to Tampa police:
He wanted Collins' help finding an address in a phone book.

Another person approached them and asked if he could help, and the man with the accent asked where the African Baptist Church was located. The other person said it was nearby, at Cleveland Street and Rome Avenue.

The man with the accent offered Collins $50 for a ride to the church.

He showed Collins what appeared to be money and said he needed the ride because he had inherited $200,000 from his brother, who had recently died in Africa. He also showed Collins a piece of paper that Collins thought looked like an official power of attorney document.

Collins agreed to give the man a ride. They left without the other person.

During a conversation with Collins, the man with the accent seemed interested in learning more about Collins' debit card and about how banking worked in the United States.

But all was not innocent, police say.

When they arrived at Cleveland and Rome, the person who spoke with them earlier popped out of the bushes with a gun. That person demanded all of Collins' money and valuables.

The man with the accent and the other person preyed on Collins' kindness, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

"Unfortunately these suspects took advantage of that and they stole from him," Davis said today.

The two men, who are suspects in three other similar scams as well in Tampa, remain at large, Davis said.

Collins reported the robbery to police right away, and his credit cards were quickly canceled.

The man with the African accent is described as a black male between 35 to 45 years old, with a small afro. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and brown shorts, and he weighs about 160 pounds.

The other suspect, a black male between 35 to 45 years old, doesn't have an African accent, police say. He weighs about 200 pounds and was last seen wearing brown shorts and a blue T-shirt with "Florida" across the front.

They might be riding a black four-door Chrysler, according to police. A video shot prior to the robbery also shows them with two women, but further details on the women weren't immediately available.

News Channel 8 reporter Natalie Shepherd and News Channel 8 photojournalist Peter Masa contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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