Man Scams Elderly Lady, Tells Her to Pay Grandson's Bail in iTunes Gift Cards

NEWTON, MA - A local woman fell victim to a phone scam Wednesday that demanded bail money for her grandson in the form of iTunes gift cards.

Police said that she received a call around 10:45 this morning from a Canadian number, saying that her grandson had been arrested and bail could be paid with the cards.

She then reportedly bought a number of gift cards totaling the required amount to release her grandson and read the numbers over the phone.

By the time she spoke with her children and realized she had been tricked, it was too late to cancel the cards, police said.

Newton Police are warning of these types of scams, which they say at times can appear very convincing.

"One thing they'll do is a young male voice will come over the phone and say 'Grandma!' and they'll say 'Billy, is that you?'" Lt. Bruce Apotheker of the Newton Police Department said. "And now that they have the name 'Billy,' they take it from there."

On Tuesday police cautioned residents about a scam involving callers posing as IRS employees; they said in general, people should never give out personal information over the phone.

Police also urge residents to alert them if a caller does not appear credible.

"Nothing needs to be done immediately because if it's a legitimate department, they won't ask for payment in iTunes gift cards," Lt. Apotheker said. "Or in any gift cards for that matter."