CARMEL- Senior citizens have been receiving calls in recent days from individuals disguising their voices and identifying themselves as their grandchildren in trouble.
Callers claim to have been arrested and incarcerated on drug charges needing immediate assistance to get out of jail.
The caller suddenly advises the intended victim that he or she needs money and can’t talk any longer. A call back number is provided and the caller hangs up the phone.
The grandparent then returns the call and a voice at the other end identifying himself as a law enforcement official answers the phone advising that bail for the grandchild has been set at anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000 but a discount of $2,000 to $3,000 would be offered if the bail was immediately paid.
The grandparent is directed to visit a local supermarket or pharmacy in order to purchase several thousand dollars worth of eBay gift cards in amounts of $250 and $500. The grandparent calls the number back a second time and is directed to scratch off the redemption codes from the gift cards.
New York City media this week reported two elderly residents of Long Island and one from northern New Jersey were victimized by the scam and on Wednesday, a Carmel man received the phony call.
Police remind the public that no law enforcement agency or correctional facility accepts gift card redemption codes as payment for bail nor does a county jail provide discounted bail if paid immediately.
Authorities urge the public not to fall for the scam and to report the matter to their local police agency be it the Sheriff’s Dept. (845-225-4300), Carmel Police (845-628-1300), Kent Police (845-225-4600), Cold Spring Police (845-265-3407) or Brewster Village Police (845-804-8442).
