Police search for woman they say scammed elderly man

Gina Marks, 26, faces exploitation charges

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – Police are looking for a 26-year-old woman who they say took thousands of dollars from an 86-year-old man.

Cliff Rogerson, 86, said he fought in World War II and was a war photographer.

He never thought he'd be scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars by a woman 60 years his junior, named by detectives as 26-year-old Gina Marks.

According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, Rogerson and Marks first met in November 2012 at a Pompano Beach Walgreens on East Atlantic Boulevard. Rogerson said she asked to borrow a dollar, and he happily lent her the money.

"I started to leave, so she runs after me and says, 'I want to pay you back,'" Rogerson said.

BSO detectives said Marks would woo Rogerson on dinner dates and often held his hand.

"I thought maybe I could have somebody as a travel companion, you know?" Rogerson said.

But Marks allegedly kept asking to borrow more money. At one point, Rogerson said she wanted $15,000 for a startup business and more for rent. Marks allegedly promised to pay him back.

However, detectives said when Marks called Rogerson, her number was blocked, so he could never call her back.

Soon, Marks -- who detectives say also goes by the aliases Gina DiPrima and Amanda Gina Marks -- was gone.

Over the course of several months, detectives said Rogerson lent her more than $20,000 and had wiped out his retirement.

Rogerson's sense of humor is still intact.

"Be careful of these good-looking young girls, you know? And put a chastity belt on them," Rogerson laughed.

Investigators said Marks faces grand theft and exploitation charges.

Anyone who knows her whereabouts is urged to call Broward CrimeStoppers at 954-493-TIPS.