THOMASVILLE — A couple of flimflammers walked away with more than $600 they tricked from a cashier at a Thomasville business, according to reports. 

A Thomasville Police Department incident report states two men approached a Walmart checkout. One man bought an item that cost $9.21, paying for the purchase with a $100 bill. The customer requested a different bill than the cashier counted out in change. The suspect placed additional bills on the counter to confuse the cashier, the report states.

At the end of the transaction, the flimflammer walked away with $660 he accumulated during the flimflam.

Continuing to ask a cashier to break down big bills to smaller denominations is an old scheme, said Maj. Wade Glover, TPD public information officer.

“The cashier winds up giving more money back than originally asked for in change,” Glover said.

Flimflammers and their accomplices look for busy cashiers, present a large bill and repeatedly ask a cashier to break it down.

Said Glover, “It’s all a game. It’s a distraction-confusion game.”

The game continues, further confusing the cashier, and the accomplice helps by distracting the clerk.

The missing money might not be noticed until a cash register is closed out for the day, Glover said.

The Walmart flimflam is being investigated. Surveillance video is being viewed, and store employees are being interviewed.

Glover said that if a cashier is in doubt about being flimflammed, and someone becomes aggressive about breaking downs bills, they should call 911 immediately.

“Police will be en route,” Glover said. “Don’t become a victim.” 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820