Supposed Grandson Of Dead Friend Bilks Bergen County Victim Out Of $15K

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Glen Rock resident appears to be the latest victim of the "Grandparent Scam" that's been sweeping America for a few years.

On Friday, June 7, the resident told police that approximately six months ago, someone claiming to be the grandson of a late friend contacted them.

The caller claimed that they were in the U.S. Army, stationed in Dubai, and needed money. The caller asked the resident to wire $15,000, which the caller did.

Then, three weeks ago, the same person called and asked for more money.

The victim checked with the bank and was told this was a scam.

The Detective Bureau is investigating.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the "Grandparent Scam" has been getting more sophisticated lately.

"Unfortunately, bad actors can now use artificial intelligence technology, commonly known as AI, and a short audio or video clip to 'clone' a loved one's voice," according to the Federal Trade Commission.

This report was just one of the 375 calls for service handled by the Glen Rock police from June 3 through June 9, 2024.

Other Scams

Meanwhile, residents reported other possible. scams recently:

On June 3, a Glen Rock resident reported they were suspicious of a financial investment they made in April of2023 as part of a joint venture with a real estate investor. The person and family invested $150,000 to purchase three properties in Newark as part of a city beautification project. When the resident asked for a progress report and timeline, they were not satisfied with the answers and suspected that the investment was a scam. They then asked for a refund.

"The Detective Bureau is currently reviewing the matter to determine if the complaint is a criminal matter or a civil business dispute," police said.

On June 7, someone told police that a stranger had fraudulently submitted a change of address with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission using their identity. They discovered this when attempting to renew their vehicle registration online. The address used in the fraudulent transaction was in Detroit.

A Motor Vehicle Commission Investigator has been assigned to the case and the person was told to file a police report.