Suspect in Norwood Phone Scam Says Police Got the Wrong Guy

NORWOOD, MA — A Reading, Pennsylvania man accused of using a scam to take $8,000 from a Norwood woman appeared in court Tuesday.

Richie Winters, 26, was arraigned in Dedham District Court on charges larceny over $250 by false pretense and receiving stolen property. He was taken into custody Monday after officers Kevin Riley and Brendan Sweeney drove six hours to arrest him, according to the Norwood Police Department.

The investigation into Winters began in December 2016, when Riley took a police report of a financial scam. The officer learned that the victim received a phone call from a person claiming to be her grandson, telling the victim that was arrested out of state and he money to get out of jail, police said. The call began with a request for $1,450, but the figure increased over a few days before the victim had over $8,200 stolen from them, police said.

In court, Winters' defense attorney said is client is not the one responsible for the crime.

“They have no video evidence or any kind of surveillance that would indicate who the person was,” Winters’ attorney said, according to WBZ.

Following the arrest, police are reminding residents to be on the lookout for scams and never send money to strangers by Western Union, Green Dot cards, iTunes cards, or any other unconventional way. If you come across a scam, you can call the Norwood Police Department at 781-440-5170.

Image: File Photo