Carnival Scams School

[Magicop]

Do any officers feel the need for a class on carnival and gypsy (Rom) scams?

This happens to be an area of expertise of mine, and I wrote a training course on it that I give to LEO's, but it's not as "glamorous" as other topics, so interest has been low. Carny and gypsy scams are what was once called "bunco" crimes...now known as frauds.

I'm just curious.

[Sparky]

I don't know of any off-hand, but I did some research on it once when they rolled through one x-mas. I've thought about doing some training on it myself, but I don't really feel like I have enough experience in it to really teach it. The only reason I even thought about it was because nothing is really offered on it in my area, so I would be doing it for lack of a better alternative, which would be nothing.

We don't get much true "gypsy" type stuff except maybe around the holidays, but we do see a few "construction/home repair" type stuff from "traveler" types.

If you have a good bit of experience in this area and already have a class put together, I'd encourage you to get out there and put on a class.

I think the reason that there isn't often much interest in training for this is because LE doesn't see it as much of a problem. Most of it goes unreported.

Maybe you could do short "community awareness" type stuff for area Chambers of Commerce...or free seminars at the local library for civilians on how to avoid "consumer scams", etc. Get a little free press coverage and stuff to help educate the public.

Just an idea.

[Niteshift]

The PA State police used to do classes on it around the NE US.

I'm sort of guessing that it's not as popular now because most people know that stuff is all rigged. It's been on Dateline, 20/20 etc.

My bigger concern is the people traveling with those carnivals. Talk about your ideal cover for burglars, pedophiles and and number of other undesireables.

But, the public eats up that kind of info, even if they've heard it before, so there might be some interest.

[Sparky]

Oh, carnies are a bunch of thugs for the most part. At least in my experience.

Talk about a bunch of out-of-state warrants...sheesh!

[Niteshift]

UI used to run as many of their tags as I could, then check registered owners for warrants. :)

And their trucks are always good for CMV violations.

[Joseph]

New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Commission might be interested in something like that. We have 13 million people visit the French Quarter each year and it's filled with unlicensed tarot card readers to phycics, to the carnivals that come through. There's not enough police to check on them. Only got to check on them when we got a complaint. You can just set up a table and be want you say you are. Also The Police Association of New Orleans who aren't police but donate money to the police or create special units funded by the large corporations. If they supply the extra money the City will form some kind of organization other than the police but with powers to investigate an enforce. We need to use every policeman we can get.