Fake Grandson Fools Resident Out of $9,000

The luck of the Irish was not with a Wiltonian last week.

A town resident received a call from overseas. The person on the other end claimed he was the resident's grandson and had just been arrested in Ireland.

The man said he was in dire need of money for fines and court fees so that he could get out of prison. He requested that the Wiltonian transfer the funds immediately for his release.

The victim apprently received a total of three calls from the alleged grandson and made three wire transfers to him in Ireland for a total of $9,000.

"Unfortunately, that's been a type of scam that's been around for a number of years now," said Wilton Police Lt. Don Wakeman.

Wakeman said the overseas caller turned out not to be the victim's grandson. Worse, still, is the fact that money that has been wired overseas is nearly impossible to recover.

Wakeman added that the Wilton Police Department's investigative unit is looking into the matter further but that "it's very difficult to track down suspects in this." He also warned residents to try and contact relatives through the phone numbers and email addresses they may have for them first before responding to requests from unfamiliar contact points.