Nutley Police Advisory - Fraud - 8/13/19

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Nutley Police Advisory - Fraud - 8/13/19

Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Chief Thomas Strumolo are advising residents that an 82 y/o Nutley Resident was scammed for over 20,000.00. The man received a call from whom he believed was his grandson residing out of state, requesting financial assistance in retaining a lawyer for a motor vehicle accident he was involved in. The man sent the funds to a location in Georgia two separate times before speaking to his daughter who advised him his grandson was fine and had no knowledge of any accident. Police are investigating, however warn residents that due to many of these crimes being perpetrated through on line accounts and untraceable Internet connections once money is sent, it is likely that police will be unable to apprehend the actor.

Chief Strumolo said that this is a common scam, many people fall victim to. Criminals prey on the victims vulnerabilities. Once a grandparent hears a distressed love ones voice on the other end of phone line, they don't think to call police or family to confirm it was actually them and act purely on emotion.

This is just one of many types of scams that we encounter, the dialog and means of communication changes however the results are generally the same. Send money. Detectives are investigating and have reached out to authorities in Georgia as well.

Police Director Alphonse Petracco said it is unnerving that someone can unconscionably take advantage of someone, in an effort to steal their life savings. We are advising residents to be aware that people like this are always trying to take advantage and ask that everyone think twice and speak to family or police before engaging with anyone that is requesting money.