Crime & Safety

Local Grandma Scammed, Police Say

Police say an E. Pikeland woman was scammed out of a lot of money.

East Pikeland Police are warning residents about a scam that police say cost a township grandmother $1,000.

According to a press release from East Pikeland police the woman "received a phone call from a man who stated that he had her grandson in custody in Ecuador and he needed $1000.00 to be able to release him."

Police say the scammers even "put a boy or someone on the phone that sounded like her grandson who asked her to send the money and not tell his parents about the call. He would explain when he got home."

Police say the victim, whose name is not being released,  "had already sent the money by the time she discovered that her grandson was not in Ecuador, but home safe and sound."

Police issued the following alert/request to raise public awareness to scams like this:  "Please do not send money to anyone that you do not know and make sure the request is legitimate before sending any money. If you are not sure or need assistance please call your local police department to assist you." 


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