Man loses $1.1K to fake charity

Two suspects who coerced a man into giving them money in South San Francisco on Friday remain at large, according to police.

The victim was leaving a store in the 500 block of El Camino Real when he was approached by one of the suspects, who asked him where the nearest church was and said he wanted help distributing money to people in need.

The victim agreed to help distribute money and drove the suspect to a church on Southwood Drive.

When they arrived, the second suspect involved in the scheme walked by and was also asked by the first suspect to help distribute money to the needy. The second suspect agreed to help as well.

The first suspect told both the victim and the second suspect that they would receive substantial financial rewards if they helped him give out money, but they both first had to bring him money as a show of trust.

The second suspect briefly left and returned with an unknown amount of cash for the first suspect, while the victim went to a bank and withdrew $1,100, which he gave to the suspects.

The first suspect then wrapped the victim’s money in a bandana with the roll of money the victim was supposed to give away to people in need.

When the victim returned to the bank to deposit all the money, he found that his money wasn’t in the bandana and that the other roll of money was shredded newspaper.

The suspects fled the scene and weren’t located, police said.

The two suspects are described as black men in their 30s with black hair and brown eyes. One is described as being five feet eight inches tall and the other is believed to be about five feet ten inches tall, according to police.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the South San Francisco police at (650) 877-8900.

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