Congers Resident Conned Out of $1,500 By Phone Scam

The Clarkstown Police Department warns the public to be aware of a telephone scam involving a caller who claims a relative of the victim is in jail and needs bail money. A Congers resident was conned out of $1,500 last week after receiving a call.

Sgt. Jo Anne Fratianni said on Friday, Oct. 4, a 79-year-old-Congers resident received a phone call from a person who was crying and identified himself as the victim’s grandson.  The caller spoke briefly saying he was in jail before a second person got on the line and identified himself as a sergeant from an upstate police department.  That person told the female victim her grandson was in jail and she needed to send $1,500 bail by Money Gram to get him out.

He directed her to go to Walmart in Airmont and send the money to the department’s bail bondsman in Atlanta, GA.  After taking care of the transaction, the victim called the sergeant back and gave him the Money Gram reference number. 

Sgt. Fratianni said, “The victim received a second call from the Sergeant who told the victim that the charges on her grandson were upgraded and that she needed to send additional funds.  The victim became suspicious and began to call various police agencies in upstate New York in an attempt to verify the information.”

None of the law enforcement agencies she called could confirm that the caller was an employee or any of the other information. The victim eventually reached her grandson who said he was not in jail.

Clarkstown Police urges residents to call 845-639-5800 if they receive a similar type of call and not to wire money.