Seniors, don’t answer urgent calls for cash

It seems that scams targeting vulnerable senior citizens have been around for as long as the age of their intended targets.

And no matter how many times these hoaxes have been exposed, the elderly still get separated from their money by falling for these bogus schemes.

The latest local example became public last week, when a 23-year-old Connecticut man was arrested for allegedly talking a Burlington senior out of $7,500.

Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent said his department recently learned that a senior had been contacted by a man posing as an attorney who claimed he needed $7,500 for bail to release her arrested son.

Versions of this particular fleecing exercise have circulated for years.

Sometimes, an elderly person receives a call from someone posing as a grandchild who needs cash to post bail, or like in this case, an alleged authority figure acting in behalf of the supposed arrested relative.

Seniors can least afford to part with their hard-earned cash, but they’re also more likely to be swayed by unscrupulous individuals looking to take advantage of their kind-hearted disposition.

In this case, after being apprised of the situation by the victim, Burlington Police eventually tracked down Erick Hernandez-Quezada in Hartford; he was arraigned in Woburn District Court on a charge of larceny over

$250 from a disabled person over the age of 60, according to Burlington Police.

Judge David Frank released Hernandez-Quezada on personal recognizance, on the condition that he stay away from the victim and the victim’s residence, and have no contact with the victim, according to police.

Hernandez-Quezada’s next court date is April 17.

Law enforcement has dispensed this same advice for years, and in the hope that senior citizens will finally get the message, we offer it again: If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be a grandchild, child or intermediary making an urgent plea for cash, don’t believe it. Never send money to a person you don’t recognize, no matter how believable their story might seem. Don’t let your emotions blur your judgment; instead, verify the veracity of the caller’s story. Invariably, you’ll discover it’s as phony as a $3 bill.

And remember to call your local police department to report any attempted – hopefully not successful – money grab.