STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An 86-year-old Staten Island man who fell victim to a telephone scam earlier this month that cost him $50,000 is sharing his story and is hoping he can help prevent future cases.
The man, who spoke with the Advance/SILive.com, said the ordeal began last week when he was contacted by an unknown individual who falsely told him that his son was under arrest after a crash in New Jersey.
“I got a phone call, and it was my son on the line saying that he got into a bad accident,” said the South Shore man, who requested his identity be withheld from publication. “‘I broke my nose, I rear-ended a car.’ He told me the cops were going to lock him up and took his iPhone. And I got scared for my son.”
The 86-year-old victim detailed how the scammers knew his son’s name and his wife’s name as well as other important details about the family.
The scammers presented themselves as lawyers assigned to his son’s case, were well versed in attorney jargon and made it believable that his son was locked up in jail somewhere in New Jersey, the victim recalled.
The supposed lawyer claimed the man’s son may be facing possible DUI charges after narrowly failing a breathalyzer and were trying to make a deal with police, the 86-year-old said.
In between speaking with the man posing as a lawyer, the victim also spoke on the phone to someone who he thought was his son, and that “he would be coming home tonight and speaking to his wife and to not wait around for him.”
The man impersonating the son said he would not be telling his wife “the truth of what happened.”
The whole ordeal occurred within two days between Aug. 15 and 16. The scammers on two occasion went to the victim’s home to collect funds and a third encounter took place at a local bank that netted $20,000.
In reality, the victim’s son had not been arrested; he was in and out of his apartment downstairs while working as a plumber. The victim said he didn’t think to call his son or check downstairs. The scammers discouraged him from using his iPhone during the whole ordeal.
SOUGHT FOR QUESTIONING
The NYPD released photos of two men sought for questioning in connection with the case, which were captured from surveillance cameras in the vicinity of the meetings. They also released an image of a gray sedan whose occupants are sought.
The first individual is described by police as standing about 6 feet tall with a heavy build and a light complexion. He was seen wearing a blue shirt and tan pants.
The second individual is described by police as standing about 6 feet tall with a slim build and light complexion. He was seen wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans.
The 86-year-old said he hopes his story helps others detect possible scams happening to them.
“If it helps one person from getting scammed then it’s all worth it. Most people can’t recover from this stuff, they just don’t have the funds,” he said.
The victim also gave some advice if you find yourself in a similar situation:
“Just call that person, or call a friend and explain what is happening. These guys have to get caught, they’re going to hurt a lot of old people and they’re are going to pay and lose their life savings.”
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confidential.
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