Fairfield police intercept $12K minutes before package reaches senior scammers
Investigators say the scam caller impersonated the victim’s son-in-law, claimed he’d been arrested after a car accident and needed bail money.
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Police are reminding the public to remain vigilant after announcing the recovery of $12,000 taken from a Fairfield man in an elaborate senior scam.
Investigators say the scam caller impersonated the victim’s son-in-law, claimed he’d been arrested after a car accident and needed bail money.
Additional scammers posing as an attorney and court representative told him to withdraw the cash and have it ready for pickup at his home.
Soon after, he learned that his son-in-law hadn’t been arrested and contacted police.
Investigators used Automated License Plate Readers to identify and reach the rideshare driver the scammers hired to transport the package containing the money.
The driver was just two minutes away from completing the delivery, according to police.
As of Friday morning, it is unclear if any arrests have been made.
The department says several similar scams have been reported over the past month.
It is rare for law enforcement to recover money taken in financial scams, according to police.
In this case, the department credits the victim’s prompt reporting and the hard work of officers involved in the investigation.
Police say scammers often “create a sense or urgency and fear to pressure victims into acting quickly.”
They urge anyone who receives similar phone calls to verify the situation before taking action.
