Public Service Announcement - Elderly Exploitation Scam

PUBLIC SAETY ANNOUNCMENT

7/28/2021

 

(U//LES) DHS: Elderly Exploitation Scam – Since on or about June 2020, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, NY and Cherry Hill NJ, the Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Iselin, NJ Office, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Consumer Protection Branch (CPB), and the Camden County Prosecutors Office (CCPO), NJ have been actively investigating an elder exploitation scam commonly referred to as the Grandparent Bail Scam. The scam occurs when a caller contacts an elderly victim and portrays themselves as the grandchild of the victim and advises the victim they have been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident, have been arrested, and require money for bail. The caller or a purported attorney or paralegal will then advise the victim how much money is required to post bail for the grandchild and will coordinate a transfer of the money through the following three methods:

 

 Money is collected in person from victims or by a courier – often times a receipt is provided.

 Money is sent by the victim mainly through UPS and FedEx.

 Money is sent by the victim through a wire transfer.

 

Citizens are asked to be aware of the above information because this can occur in any location including the town of Francestown and has occurred in the past in Francestown. Please contact the Francestown Police Department before you respond to any calls similar in nature at 547-2043 and leave a massage and this agency will return a call to you.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Chief Fred Douglas