Watch CBS News

Scam Convinces Crowd That Highland Park Was Giving Away Free Houses And $100,000

HIGHLAND PARK (WWJ) -- Hundreds of people poured into the streets of Highland Park on Saturday under the impression they would receive two things -- a house within the city and $100,000.

The promise turned out to be a scam created by someone passing out fliers that stated residents would receive the money and a house if they showed up to city hall on July 4.

Mayor Hubert Yopp told WWJ Newsradio 950 that the man had been passing out copies of a phony notice from the 1800s.

"Querying some of the bystanders I found out that they said that this man...had a document from the 1800s that entitled them to homes in Highland Park," Yopp said.

Several people were arrested during the gathering.

"Very few people that I noticed [were] from Highland Park," Yopp said. "The dominant figure -- about 90 percent -- was from surrounding communities or not from this city."

More information will be released by Highland Park officials on Tuesday.

[Stay with CBSDetroit.com and LISTEN LIVE to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest]

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.