Grantsville, UT – An elder resident of Grantsville became the unwitting victim of a sophisticated scam, duped into sending over $8,000 to a fraudster posing as a lawyer to save his son, supposedly detained overseas, from jail. This instance signals a rise in such cons, exploiting the emotional vulnerabilities of elderly people with untraceable communication and payment methods complicating the policing efforts.
Investigations reveal that the scammer contacted the elderly man claiming to be his son in distress following an accident involving a pregnant woman. Adding to the urgency was the victim’s inability to reach his son, who was said to be deployed in Italy. Following the initial contact, the distressed father was directed to communicate with an alleged lawyer. He was manipulated into wiring $8,700 through a Coinstar machine to an account number provided over the phone.
The plot thickened as the so-called lawyer demanded an additional $12,000, promising that all charges against his son would be dropped upon payment. This demand raised the victim’s suspicion, leading to the involvement of law enforcement authorities.
Authorities pointed out the growing trend of using ‘roaming’ phone numbers that evade tracing, often utilized across various app platforms. This method poses a significant challenge in tracking down the perpetrators behind these scams.
A similar scam was reported in nearby West Jordan in April, where another individual was conned into paying $45,000 in cryptocurrency under the pretext of bailing his son out of jail for a DUI-related incident involving a pregnant woman. It later emerged that his son had never been arrested.
Grantsville Police Lt. Jeff Watson remarked on the psychology of the scam, noting that criminals pressurize victims to act swiftly as if a loved one’s immediate safety is at stake. He stressed that neither police nor any other official agency would solicit money over the phone to prevent an arrest.
Watson emphasized the common red flags in such scams, including requests for payments through Bitcoin, or the use of reloadable credit cards available at retail stores. He advised the public to verify the authenticity of such distress calls by directly contacting recognized authorities rather than responding to the originating call or number.
Highlighting another preventive measure, Watson encouraged involving a third party like a family member, friend, or a legal advisor before taking any action suggested over the phone.
While the perpetrators in the Grantsville case remain at large, the investigation continues with cooperation between local authorities and law enforcement across state lines, who are chasing possible leads to apprehend the culprits behind this intricate fraud.
These scams not only result in financial loss but also leave lasting psychological scars on the victims. Public awareness and adherence to the guidelines suggested by law enforcement can play a crucial role in countering such deceptive schemes targeting vulnerable individuals, ensuring their protection against exploitation.