Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney has announced the recovery of $8,500 that was taken from an elderly victim in a "grandchild bail needed" scam. The Suffolk County Government, working with other agencies, was able to intercept the funds and return them to the victim, who had been misled into believing that their granddaughter required bail money.
The incident began on December 12, when an 80-year-old woman received a phone call from someone impersonating her granddaughter. The caller claimed to have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in New York and requested bail money. The scam was reinforced by an individual posing as an attorney, who instructed the woman to send cash through the U.S. Postal Service. The call was later traced to Devils Lake, North Dakota, where a detective informed local authorities about the situation.
With the information available and a reported delivery of the mailed cash to Shirley, New York, on Wednesday, officials acted promptly. District Attorney Tierney stated that the office is committed to protecting residents from scams. In a coordinated effort involving local detectives, U.S. Postal Inspectors, and other agencies, the package was intercepted, preventing the fraudsters from obtaining the money.
