Ladies and gentlemen, I honestly don't know how to start this column. I could start with the sheer stupidity of the victims or give kudos to (in an odd sort of way) the perpetrator. I can't decide if the scam is the most idiotic I've ever heard of or simply the cleverest. |
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Here goes. In a police report dated 4/19/06, 76 year old Philip Winikoff was arrested for 2 counts of "Sexual Battery with force on a victim over 12 years old" and 2 counts of "Touch or Strike Battery."
Two women in Lauderdale Lakes , FL called the Broward County Sheriff's office after being.shall we say 'violated'.by the perpetrator.
Winikoff was going door-to-door with a black doctor's bag in hand offering free breast exams. The two victims let him in and allowed him to perform exams on them. However, after n fondling their breasts and then "migrating his fingers southward" shall we say the woman became suspicious and called the police. In both cases the Winikoff fled the scene after the fondling and groping and was apprehended a short time later.
Ladies and gentleman, I'll be the first to admit that I've never had a breast exam by a physician (or anyone claiming to be a physician). I'll also admit that I don't know the first thing about breast health.
What I do know about is reality. More specifically, I know enough to say "hey - wait a minute" if something just doesn't seem right.
I have to admit that if I had a "doctor" show up at my door to offer a free breast exam all the bells and alarms in my mind would be going off.
There are a thousand questions I'd be asking and the least of which is 'why would a doctor show up unannounced (and unrequested) at my door offering to give me a breast exam?'
It may be a woman thing but then again I certainly wouldn't drop my drawers for a doctor that shows up at my door and tells me he's giving free prostate exams.
What were these women thinking? No offense to women.we all agree that the actions of a few shouldn't define the mental capabilities of the many.
On the other hand (and this IS a guy thing), I have to give Winikoff credit - either he's crazy enough or he is smart enough (or both) to try something like this. This type of "creative thinking" is the backbone of what made America . Unfortunately, though, his "creative thinking" was perverse and his actions were most likely felonies and he'll probably end up going straight to prison.
We've all heard the saying "a fool and his money is soon parted." In short, this means that if you're dumb enough to fall for the scam you deserve to lose your money (or other things in this particular situation).
These women, whose names I won't release (because they'll be contacted by every scammer from here to eternity for their obvious lack of a grasp on reality) deserve what they got.
It's not that I'm condoning what Winikoff did - far from it, in fact. I have an intense hatred for those perpetrating any crimes of a sexual nature or crimes that prey on the lack of intelligence of others.
What I am saying is that if you're dumb enough to fall for such a ridiculous scam when the vast majority of others would be saying 'now wait a minute' and you have no good reason for it (i.e. mental deficiencies) you deserve whatever it is you get.
I'll have to be sure to ask for ID the next time the Jehova's Witnesses come to the door.
Police Report Page 1 | Police Report Page 2 |
