CRESTVIEW — Beware of a phone fraud that recently conned a senior citizen out of $1,900.
An unidentified 78-year-old Crestview resident was a victim of a relative-in-trouble swindle, a common identity theft, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office reported.
Someone claiming to be a grandson called the woman, said he was incarcerated in Mexico and needed money to be released and return to the United States.
The man said he had been jailed following a car accident.
The man didn't sound like her grandson, the woman said, but she attributed the unusual voice to stress, an OCSO news release stated.
The woman also talked to someone claiming to be her grandson's lawyer, who instructed her to send $1,900 to an unspecified location via Western Union.
The woman was asked not to contact anyone in the matter, saying it could jeopardize her grandson's safe return.
After the woman sent the money, she contacted her actual grandson, who said he had not been in Mexico or incarcerated.
The woman then contacted the sheriff’s office, which is investigating the incident.
These types of crimes usually target the elderly, the release stated.
Residents receiving these calls should contact the local authorities before wiring any money.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Officers urge caution after Crestview senior citizen loses money in scam