Sonoma County Sheriff Warns of Scam Directed At Elderly

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about an increase in a phone scam directed at elderly people.

The scam involves a suspect calling an elderly person and claiming the suspect is that person's grandchild and has gotten in trouble with the law, according to the sheriff's office.

In a recent scam, the suspect called an elderly man and said he was his grandson and had gotten into legal trouble while traveling.

Police said the suspect than said he needed money to get out of jail.

Another suspect, pretending to be a law enforcement officer, then took the phone and told the man he needed to purchase $3,000 worth of prepaid credit cards and give the suspect the account numbers.

Police said the victim realized he was the victim of a scam a few days after the suspects contacted him when he saw his grandson and learned he never called asking for the money.

Investigators said there has recently been in an increase in this type of scam aimed at the elderly.

--Bay City News