Southwest Lubbock businesses hit hard by 'quick change scammers'

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LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Today we're hearing from one of the businesses that fell victim to a pair of what Lubbock police are calling professional "quick change scammers."

Police say the two suspects will approach a cashier and ask for change, while distracting them and tricking them into giving out more change than is owed.

Lt. Ray Mendoza says the string of scams began on Jan. 16, and has now grown to a list of at least ten businesses in Southwest Lubbock that have been hit.

He says all the businesses hit are in Southwest Lubbock, and they have evidence to believe the same two suspects are connected to all of them.

"I think, to try to get money this way is just despicable, quite frankly," said Scott Mosier, owner of Double Dave's Pizza on 82nd Street.

Double Dave's Pizza is one of the most recent businesses hit by the two scam artists the Lubbock Police Department is working to locate.

"They approach them real causally, real friendly and then ask for change. And go as far as even asking you what kind of change do you have in your drawer?" Mendoza said. "And the young cashier usually tells them what they have and then they can set up their plan as to how much they're going to go for."

Mosier says the scammers targeted a 19-year-old cashier.

However, he says one of his managers realized what was going on during the transaction.

"And she was able to kind of stop them from getting any farther. And she was going to take our cash drawer in the back to count it to make sure there was no shortage of money," he said. "And apparently one of the gentlemen came into the kitchen and almost threatened her. And she felt a little insecure so she gave the gentleman his money back."

Mendoza says that is the right thing to do.

"If it gets to the point where the situation is escalating to potential violence, we ask the citizens to comply," he said. "Don't jeopardize your lives."

Mendoza and these business owners want to raise awareness, and hopefully prevent this scam from continuing to happen.

"The first thing you need to do is not let them behind the counter. If you can feel the situation is escalating, stop the transaction where you're at and call the police."

Mendoza also says you should only complete one transaction at a time to eliminate confusion.

"If they ask you for change for a 10, complete that transaction before going into the next transaction."

What seems to be a simple scam, but one that can target anyone.

"These guys are professionals. The methods that they're using are pretty sophisticated," Mendoza said. "They may not look that way on camera. But when you're in there and all the distractions they're throwing at these young cashiers, it could happen to any one of us."

"It just bothers me that there are people out there that, this is how they quote on quote try to make there living," Mosier said. "But I also feel bad for my employees who were trying to help somebody make change and they ended up getting scammed."