Sullivan County Sheriff Press Release

Sheriff warns of scam targeting senior citizens

Posted 8/25/21

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff is warning the public about a recent scam targeting Sullivan County senior citizens. In the latest scam, residents will receive a telephone …

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Sullivan County Sheriff Press Release

Sheriff warns of scam targeting senior citizens

Posted

MONTICELLO, NY — Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff is warning the public about a recent scam targeting Sullivan County senior citizens. In the latest scam, residents will receive a telephone call from a person claiming that the target’s grandchild or other relative has been involved in a DWI accident where they struck and killed a pedestrian or caused the death of another motorist and that they are now in jail.

The scammers say that the phony grandchild was also hurt in the crash and suffered facial injuries preventing them from speaking clearly. The scammers then put a person on the telephone who has impaired speech and knows the target’s first name. The phony grandchild asks the victim to send money to either bail them out of jail or for a lawyer. If the target agrees, the scammers send a courier to the target’s house to pick up the money. The courier, who is an independent person running different errands for people off of an internet app, picks up the money and sends it via Western Union or a Moneygram type service to the scammers. The scammers, who can be located anywhere in the world, are calling from an internet telephone number that is difficult to trace. 

“The scammers have gotten money from several residents in Sullivan County”, said Schiff. “If you get one of these calls, hang up and call your family member directly. Don’t call the number that the scammers give you and don’t give money to strangers that show up at your door.”

The sheriff said that there are different variations of the scam but the basic pattern is to make you believe that there is a loved one in distress so that you will send money.

Sullivan County Sheriff, Mike Schiff, scam, seniors

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