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Bail
scam phone fraud bilks elderly grandmothers in CA
Woodland
Police have received reports of two completed frauds and at least one
attempt fraud, where elderly women have been duped into believing they
are bailing their grandsons out of jail.
The
first incident occurred on
4-26-04
, at about 1725 hours. A
male caller, who identified himself as Ron Dickson, phoned a 75 year
old
Woodland
resident and advised her that her grandson was in jail in
Modesto
for hit and run.
He correctly identified her grandson by name, and told her that
she would have to wire $840 to bail him out.
During the course of the
next three hours, the victim was called collect several times by a
male who said he was her grandson, and who sounded sort of similar to
him, pleading with her to bail him out.
She finally agreed.
Another call was then received from a man using a Hispanic name.
He gave her information on how to phone
Western Union
to wire the money necessary to bail out her poor innocent grandson.
She did as she was instructed, using her credit card to pay for
the transaction, which totaled over $900.
She then obtained the control number for the transaction, which
she later gave to the “bail bondsman” when he called back.
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