Police Issue Warning Against ‘Grandparent Scam’ After Elderly Man Loses $9,500 To Thief Posing As His Grandson: Report

Law enforcement officers are sounding the alarm over a scam designed to drain the life savings of elderly victims.

Pennsylvania police say an 86-year-old resident lost $9,500 to a person pretending to be his grandson, reports The Times-Tribune.

Joseph Burke says he received calls from a person claiming to be his direct descendant, saying that he needed $19,000 to settle a traffic accident.

Amid the urgency of the purported situation, Joseph took out $9,500 from one of his accounts and wanted to withdraw more from another bank but employees stopped him from doing so.

Joseph says he followed the instructions of the thief, allowing a man sporting a baseball cap, blue surgical mask and surgical gloves to collect the funds at his house.

Using surveillance footage, the police were able to identify the car used to get the money from Joseph’s residence. According to the police, the vehicle had been leased from a rental car firm under the name of Iris Alvarez. The officers subsequently secured a warrant to access Alvarez’s Cash App account and determined that the alleged thief was working with Alfonso Camareno.

The duo are now charged with operating a corrupt organization, theft and other related crimes.

The police warn that their investigation suggests the scheme looks to be part of an organized crime group operating elsewhere.

In Pittsburgh, police say Camareno is the mastermind of a criminal crew that solely targets elderly people. Camareno is also wanted in Pittsburgh where he is facing similar charges.

Camareno and Alvarez are still at large. Police say the investigation is still active with the likelihood of more arrests.

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