Police warn against phone scam after theft

Police are warning area residents about a popular phone scam that cost one woman $4,500 last week.

EAST GREENVILLE »Police are urging residents to take precautions after a phone scam resulted in a $4,500 theft.

Police said they received a call about a theft from a home on the 300 block of Third Street on Dec. 29 at around 5:38 p.m. The victim told police that a caller identified himself as a police officer and told the victim that her grandson was in need of money to post bail. The caller then instructed the woman to purchase $4,500 in gift cards from Walmart and the suspect called the victim again to receive the numbers on the cards, police said.

Once the victim provided the caller with the information, the victim learned her grandson was safe and not in custody. Within minutes of receiving the card numbers, the funds were spent at another location in the U.S.

Walmart is cooperating with police as they investigate the incident, police said.

“Residents are cautioned to call the police upon receiving any such calls of similar nature,” warned police. “This is to verify legitimacy. It should be noted that no police or law enforcement agency will ever request that funds be sent using gift cards or other similar devices. Furthermore, it would be highly unusual for the person in custody to be prohibited from speaking to family members directly to make the request.”

Police are asking that anyone with information contact the East Greenville Police Department at 215679-5194.