Local grandfather scammed out of thousands of dollars from fake grandson
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REXBURG — Authorities are investigating a fraud case after an elderly man sent $4,585 to a telephone scammer.
The 81-year-old Rexburg man and his 67-year-old wife, who have not been identified, received a phone call around 8 a.m. Thursday morning from someone claiming to be their grandson.
“He called him ‘Grandpa’ and said he was involved in a crash, ran a red light and was under the influence of alcohol in Idaho Falls,” Rexburg Police Capt. Randy Lewis tells EastIdahoNews.com. “The person on the phone gave the victim a number and told him to call it back.”
The victim called the number and the man on the other end of the line said he was a public defender named Mark Newman. Lewis says “Newman” told the victim he needed to go to Walmart and wire around $2,400 to Virginia to pay a bail bondsman.
“He said that bondsmen were cheaper in Virginia so the guy went to Walmart and paid the money,” Lewis says.
“Newman” called the victim multiple times throughout the day with supposed updates on the grandson’s status and then told the victim that if he paid another $2,216, the grandson’s arrest record would be expunged.
“So he went back to Walmart and paid the money,” Lewis says.
The victim soon realized he had been scammed and contacted the Rexburg Police Department. Officers tried to get the money back but it had already been picked up.
Lewis hopes others learn from this incident.
“Don’t fall for these scams. Don’t give our personal information. Do not send money through MoneyGram, Walmart – any of these things,” Lewis says. “If they request money, don’t send it. Just don’t send it.”