They scammed an 87-year-old woman, and police are asking for your help to catch them

Police are asking for your help this week to apprehend a team of scammers who preyed on an 87-year-old woman. If you have information about either the Crime of the Week or the Suspect of the Week, do not try to take action on your own. Anonymous tips, including photos and videos, can be submitted by texting LEXPD plus the tip to CRIMES (274637). Information can also be sent anonymously through Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at 859-253-2020 or www.bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.

Crime of the Week

This week’s Crime of the Week is the scamming of an 87-year-old woman. Police say she was approached in the parking lot of the Kroger at 1650 Bryan Station Road. Police say two people — a black man and a black woman who was about 40 years old — conned her out of an undisclosed amount of cash.

According to Lexington police Detective Mark Thomas, here's how the scam operated:

The man claimed he found a wallet with $10,000 in large bills near the victim's car. Then the woman, pretending to be just passing by, entered the conversation. The man suggested that the three of them split the money, told the victim that he worked at a nearby bank and said he could convert the larger bills into smaller ones if the victim could provide smaller bills in a large enough quantity. The woman then rode with the victim to her bank, where she withdrew cash in small bills. She then gave the money to the man. The man, who said he was leaving to go to his bank, took the victim's money and did not return.

Bluegrass Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the solving of this crime.

Suspect of the Week

This week’s Suspect of the Week is Joseph Fain, who is wanted on a charge of first-degree robbery. Fain, 19, is described as black; 5 feet, 9 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds (see his photo above).

If you have information about Fain, call Crime Stoppers at 859 253-2020 or toll-free at 1-877-970-2020. To place a free call on your AT&T cellphone, press *2020.

This story was originally published November 2, 2016 at 3:37 PM with the headline "They scammed an 87-year-old woman, and police are asking for your help to catch them."