Cops: ‘Grandson’ scam cost Alpharetta woman $17K

Awoman fromnorth Fulton County thought shewas paying for her grandson’s bail.

Instead, shewas the victim of a scam and gave $17,500to an unknown man, police say.

The79-year-old Alpharetta woman was first contacted by suspects on May 23, according to a police report. Someone posing as her grandson told her over the phone that he was “locked up in downtown Atlanta” for a DUI. Another man got onthe phone and told the woman that she could bail her grandson out for $8,000.

According to the report, the woman was convinced by the story and sent the money in cash to the Florida address of a man named “Robert Mendoza.”

On May 25, the woman received another call froma mannamed “Walter Evens.” He told the woman she would have to send an additional $9,500 because her grandson got into a fight in jail and “broke another man’s nose and ribs.” According to the report, she again sent the money in cash to the same address.

The man claiming to be Walter Evens contacted her again later that day and said he needed an additional $6,000 for court fees. The caller said he tried to use the grandson’s credit card, but it wouldn’t go through. When he asked the grandmother to pay, she said she couldn’t send any more money.

The woman then contacted her daughter, who convinced her that this was a scam.

Officers with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety were contacted on May 29, and an investigation is ongoing.