SMETHPORT — A familiar scam with a new twist has been reported to McKean County’s top prosecutor.
District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer sent out a cautionary report about a new “parent” scam targeting an elderly resident. The County Detective Bureau received a report from a woman who received a call directing her to pay money to bail her son out of jail.
“A victim reported to our office that she received a phone call where the caller told her that her son was in an accident and he was being held pending the payment of bail,” Shaffer said. “The scammers then placed another person on the phone who pretended to be the victim’s son who sounded distressed. The elderly woman was not able to determine at that time if the person she heard was her son or not.
“The caller told the victim she needed to pay $15,000 to bail her son out, and, further, that she was to get the money from two separate banks,” the prosecutor continued. “It is believed this direction was to avoid the banks from becoming suspicious. The scammers instructed the victim to not attempt to contact any of her son’s immediate family.”
She explained Chief County Detective Ryan Yingling was able to confirm the victim’s son was not in danger and was not the person heard on the phone call. He has been in contact with the FBI and other law enforcement.
“All residents should be aware of scams like this and report any such scams to the County Detectives at the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 887-3312 or McKeanDA.org,” Shaffer said.
