66°
LEICESTER, Mass. — The Leicester Police Department is warning residents to be aware of "grandchild in trouble" scams operating in the area, after an elderly couple in Leicester was recently contacted by scam artists.
Police Chief James Hurley said that the department recently received a report from the couple after they were contacted by someone purporting to be from the Panama City Police Department.
The caller claimed that their grandson had been picked up in a police sweep in Panama, and though he was exonerated, he was still in need of $3,200 to get released and get out of the country, explained the chief.
"They wanted them to do a Western Union or wire transfer," said Hurley.
The callers went so far as to get someone to pretend to be the couple's grandson, but his voice was disguised by static, making it difficult to make out.
Hurley said the couple did the right thing and reported it to the Leicester Police Department immediately.
"We helped them out, made some phone calls with them, and located their grandson who was safe and sound here in the United States at his job," he said. "We just want other seniors, particularly ones with grandchildren, to be aware that this scam is operating in the area."
Comments