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Phoenix police warn about holiday 'Good Samaritan' scam

Posted at 5:05 PM, Dec 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-15 00:55:19-05

A holiday shopper avoided a new scam that Phoenix police want to warn you about. 

According to the Phoenix Police Department, a resident in Maryvale contacted police after she had a strange encounter with someone who was posing as a Good Samaritan. 

The woman had finished some holiday shopping when she walked to a parking lot, opened her vehicle door and placed her purse and coffee inside. The woman then started putting her purchases inside the vehicle when she noticed a woman who was standing behind her car. 

The stranger then approached her and said that the woman's tire was flat. 

The shopper didn't move from the driver's die of the vehicle but did thank the stranger for the information. 

The stranger then began walking towards the woman, but the woman remained next to the driver's side door. She continued to put her purchases inside her car before she inspected the tires. She noticed that none were actually flat. 

Police say this is a scam where strangers may try to lure shoppers away from their belongings. Police encourage everyone to be extra vigilant around the holidays. 

They encourage those who see suspicious activity to contact police and also let employees of the business know about it.