Police Brief: Shell Employee Conned Out of $625

An employee of the says he was tricked into giving away $625 — a ruse that also cost him his job, according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Department.

The worker told police he believed he was following the instructions of a co-owner when he received a telephone call on store's business line at about 6:40 p.m. Sept. 10, asking him to take $625 from the register and safe and give it to either a man the caller identified or his daughter who would pick it up, according to a police report.

The caller noted where the co-owner met the worker at during training at another service station and had specific knowledge of how the store's safe worked, the police said.

Within minutes, a woman arrived, waited for the worker to count out the cash and took the money while the caller remained on the phone, the report said.

The worker, who was fired from his job as a result of the scam, and another co-owner told police they believe a former employee is responsible for the hoax, police said.

Police say they are continuing to investigate the case.

For questions about this blotter, email chris.machniak@patch.com.