Crime & Safety

Man Bilked of $40K From Scammer Calling To Say Grandson Was in Need

Grandfather found out he'd been lied to about grandson's whereabouts after he received Christmas card from relative

A man was robbed of more than $40,000 in a phone and wire scam when a caller lied and said his grandson was in trouble, police said. After a greeting card arrived in the mail from the actual grandson, the victim discovered the ruse and called police.

The theft occurred over the last 10 days, said Chief Michael Mastronardy.

An 82 year old Toms River man began receiving phone calls around Dec. 9, when a woman called and said his grandson was involved in an accident in Las Vegas, Mastronardy said. The caller asked the victim to wire $4,420 to a Kevin Korn at a Western Union in Los Angeles. 

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The next call came Dec. 13, when the woman said the person his grandson had hit had “taken a turn for the worse” and he needed to wire an additional $39,780, Mastronardy said.

The latest request came Dec. 16, for $100,000.

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“On the 16th another call came to the victim and stated the person struck by his grandson passed away and that an additional $100,000 would be needed to get him out of trouble,” Mastronardy said.

The victim discovered he had been lied to after a Christmas card from his grandson arrived in the mail.

“The grandson sent a Christmas Card to his grandfather at which point he contacted his grandson and realized he was victim of a senior scam,” Mastronardy said in a statement

The bank and the Toms River Police Department are working together to limit this fraud to the current $44,376.

Mastronardy is also warning residents to be on the lookout asking for money.

Mastronardy said that to thwart such callers, use the following advice:

  • Communicate with family members directly first.
  • Be cautious when sending money.
  • Ask questions only family members would know the answer to, so you can establish who you are talking with.

“Once again the Toms River Police warn family members to be alert  to these telephone scams. Do not send money to family members in need without directly communicating with them.  Also,  sometimes people will present themselves over the phone as a family member so ask questions that only your family members would know,  such as other family members, pets names, etc.,” Mastronardy said.


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