'Cash drop scam' in Northern California leads to two arrests, linked to 40 cases

(FOX40.COM) -- Two people were arrested in connection with a 'cash drop scam' that has been circulating through Northern California. • Video Above: Scams circulating in California

Around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Vacaville Police Department responded to a loss prevention agent at a local business who reported suspicious activity in the parking lot.

"He’d (loss prevention) recently been alerted to 'cash drop scams' happening in other cities — and recognized suspects who matched those descriptions, possibly targeting an elderly couple," VPD said.

In a cash drop scam, criminals will often observe a debit card transaction to capture someone’s PIN, then approach them claiming they “dropped some cash," according to VPD. While the victim is distracted, the scammer swaps or steals their credit