A 95-year-old Vero Beach woman was scammed out more than $9,000, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The woman reported to authorities on Tuesday that she sent $9,050 by mail to someone who claimed to be her grandson. Eight hours after the phone call with her supposed grandson, she had second thoughts about sending the money and called authorities.
She reported that the voice on the phone didn’t sound like her grandson but the caller explained that he had broken nose and a cut on his face, which caused his voice to sound different. The caller told the woman that his lawyer would be in contact with her to give her the address to send the money.
He told her that he needed the money to be bailed out of jail – that he had been in a car crash and was found with an open bottle of wine.
The woman gave investigators the phone number to the “lawyer.” The deputy called the number and was initially able to establish contact. But when the deputy asked the “lawyer” why the “grandson” needed the cash, the lawyer hung up.
The deputy continued to call the number back but it went to voicemail.
While at the woman’s home, the phone rang. In a twist of the case, the caller said that he/she was a victim of identity fraud and would send the money back to the 95-year-old. The deputy told the caller not to contact the elderly woman again and instructed the caller to send the money back if it gets to the intended location.
The deputy then contacted the U.S. Postal Service’s on-call Postal investigator to alert the agency to the fraud. The investigator said contact would be made to the branch to intercept the package.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the case is still active, pending the location of the money.
Law enforcement continues to caution residents to be alert to potential scams such as these – where the caller pretends to be a relative in trouble and needing help. Potential victims could thwart such scammers by taking a moment to call their relative to verify the information. Would-be victims could also ask the caller for information only their relative would know, which could help discern whether the call is real or a scam.
Comments