Wednesday 10 March 2010

You Can Call Him Rafael

By MURRAY WEISS and ED ROBINSON

Posted: 4:02 AM, February 4, 2010

Paul Simon Bank Hoax


A con man trying to impersonate Paul Simon was arrested for trying to take money out of the singer's bank account -- because the teller realized the 6-foot-1 crook looked absolutely nothing like the diminutive rock legend, police sources told The Post.

Rafael Ramos, 54, walked into a Citibank branch on Broadway near West 86th Street at about 1 p.m. and allegedly tried to take out $4,300 using Simon's name and bank account number.

Ramos also had Simon's Social Security number.

It wasn't immediately clear how the alleged identity thief managed to get the confidential information.

The teller became suspicious after realizing the suspect is 10 inches taller and 14 years younger than the 5-foot-3, 68-year-old Simon.

When she refused to give him the money, Ramos bolted, according to authorities.

But cops picked him up a short time later.

Ramos was carrying a forged driver's license and credit card with Simon's name on them, the sources said.

He was charged with attempted larceny, but was taken to a hospital after telling the arresting officers he was depressed, cops said.

Simon told cops he didn't know Ramos, the sources said.

Calls and e-mails to the singer's reps weren't returned.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/paul_simon_bank_hoax_0wPHVUYybb634HHQtBFcEI

No comments:

Post a Comment