Swift-Thinking Senior Hailed as Hero for Helping Catch Scammer

A Long Island grandma is being credited for helping catch a scammer targeting senior citizens. Fox News talked to the savvy senior about how she tricked the would-be thief. It seems she got a call from someone claiming to be her grandson saying he was in jail charged with DUI and needed $8,000. She knew immediately it was a scam because she doesn’t have a grandson old enough to drive.

Instead of hanging up, the retired 911-dispatcher played along with his scheme, while notifying police at the same time. When the scammer showed up at her house to collect the money, the police were waiting and arrested the guy. The whole take-down was caught on her doorbell video. She’s now being called a hero for helping stop this would-be scammer from targeting other elderly folks.

Police warn this is a common phone scam targeted to senior citizens. In addition to phone calls, would-be scammers are also known to send emails claiming to be a relative in trouble who needs money wired to them. Do not fall victim to this type of fraud by sending money.

The Seniors Trust is working to help protect seniors as well by safeguarding Social Security. It is calling on Congress to pass the Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will provide bigger monthly benefits, establish a fairer cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), and secure its long-term solvency.