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2 Men Rob Helpful Student

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 5, 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. The man seeking help and another man robbed Collins of his money and a laptop Wednesday night, Tampa police said Friday.

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

According to Tampa police:

Collins was at a service station at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Howard Avenue at nearly 8 p.m. Wednesday when the man with the accent asked for help finding an address in a phone book.

Another man 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 man.

When they arrived at Cleveland and Rome, the man who spoke with them earlier popped out of the bushes with a gun. He 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 Friday.

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

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

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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