RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Two police officers in Richmond are being praised after successfully stopping a scam that targeted an 81-year-old grandmother.
On Wednesday, officers at the Utica Police Department in Michigan contacted the Richmond Police Department for help with an investigation.
Police say a man posing as an attorney called the elderly woman and said her grandson was currently incarcerated at a Tennessee jail, close to where he goes to school. The imposter told her she needed to send $9,800 in cash to an address in South Richmond to bond her grandson out of jail.
The package, which contained the cash, was scheduled to arrive just a couple hours from the time RPD received the call. Officers J. Crain and C. Waldron quickly jumped to action and contacted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
But after a failed attempt by UPS to intercept the package, the officers recovered it — with all the money inside — at an address in the city.
RPD said they are continuing to investigate this case, but the money will soon be returned.
“We are glad we could help save this woman from becoming a victim. Imposters frequently target the elderly, so this is a reminder to take the necessary precautions to protect your loved ones,” RPD said on social media.
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