CHATHAM – State Police New Lebanon arrested a Bronx man on a charge of felony grand larceny for allegedly making a grandson scam phone call to a Columbia County resident.
Police allege on July 23, Jose Antonetti, 37, called a victim claiming their grandson needed to be bailed out of jail. The subject claimed to represent the grandson and demanded $5,000, which the victims agreed to pay in cash.
After paying the fraudulent bail, the scam artist demanded another $10,000 and that’s when the victims became suspicious and called the police.
Investigation determined Antonetti drove from New York City to the victim’s residence and stole the $5,000.
Antonetti was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.