LaSalle woman almost taken in by ‘relative scam’ cash request

Stopping in at police station saved her from wiring $4,000 cash to fraudsters

LaSalle police say a local woman almost fell for the infamous “relative scam” because the call came from what she thought was a trustworthy number — her son’s cellphone.

“Don’t trust your phone’s caller ID,” advised LaSalle police in a news release on Thursday. “Crooks have learned how to spoof numbers, and are using your trust to swindle you.”

The recent incident began with the LaSalle resident receiving a phone call informing her that her son was in trouble in Vancouver and needed $4,000 immediately. The caller said a taxi would pick up the woman from her home and take her to her bank to make a withdrawal, then take her to a business in East Windsor to wire the funds.

The cab arrived soon after the call ended.

The targeted woman got in the cab, went to her bank, made the withdrawal, and was heading to the designated business when she decided to stop at the LaSalle police station in the hope of learning more about what happened to her son.

The woman spoke with a staff member at LaSalle police who immediately recognized the scam — which extracts money from victims by creating a false sense of urgency and exploiting concern for loved ones.

While the woman was speaking with the staff member, the scammers called her again. They quickly hung up when it became clear she was at a police station.

A LaSalle police officer spoke with the woman and arranged for her real son (who had been away on a business trip) to call her and assure her that he was safe and did not need any money transferred.

The son told police that he had also received a strange phone call earlier that day. The caller ID showed his own number. LaSalle police then spoke with the taxi company, who said the call to arrange the cab came from the same number used by the woman’s son.

The business where the woman was supposed to send the funds told police they stopped doing wire transfers in 2016.

LaSalle police once again warn the community about the proliferation of scams and the need for vigilance.

Any resident who receives a call saying their relative is in trouble should first attempt to speak with that relative or other relatives to confirm the situation. “Police, judges, or legal entities will never make urgent requests for money,” LaSalle police advised. “Never voluntarily give out a family members’ name or information to unknown callers. “Always question requests for money.”