FROM THE PRATTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Prattville Police Department wants to warn citizens of the community about a financial scam that seems to be targeting the elderly. This scam is spreading across the State and even possibly the Southeast. As of today’s date, the Prattville Police Department is currently investigating three (3) cases related to this scam that occurred within the last week. All three (3) cases involved an elderly person receiving a phone call advising that a family member was in some sort of legal trouble after a vehicle accident.
The victim must then submit a cash payment to an unknown individual to help the family member with their perceived legal issues. These type scams usually suggest that a grandchild has been arrested and that the victim (grandparent) needs to help the grandchild with some type of cash bond in order to be released from jail or to pay a fine.
Similar type scams also often request that the victims place an amount of money on a Green Dot card or other similar type debit card. The victim then gives the caller the needed information to access the debit card resulting in all the funds being removed. What is most troubling with these recent type cases is that the victim are usually targeted because of their age and the suspect(s) tend to play on the victim’s emotions as they relate to family members. In addition, there is great concern that suspects are meeting the victim in person to take possession of the money.
Suspects typically do not reside in the local area and due to the precautionary measures taken by the suspects, these cases are typically difficult to investigate. The best way to prevent becoming a victim of such a crime is to first be aware that these crimes exist and that these scams typically target the elderly. The Prattville Police Department encourages the public to immediately contact the Police if they suspect they are being scammed and to never submit monetary payments to anyone until they have verified the legitimacy of the individual.
334-595-0208 – Prattville Police Department Desk
334-361-9911 – Autauga 911 Police Dispatch non-emergency
