Con Artist Scams Brooklyn Grandparents Out Of Thousands, DA Says

BROOKLYN, NY — A con artist who scammed grandparents out of thousands of dollars has been indicted in Brooklyn, the district attorney announced.

Anthony Rosario Mendez, a 24-year-old from the Bronx, was arraigned Wednesday for scamming eight senior citizens over the past year by telling them their grandchild was arrested and needed money for bail, according to prosecutors.

“We should all be aware of bail scams like the one this defendant was allegedly part of and be wary of any phone calls from strangers asking for cash," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said. "Never agree to turn over money without contacting your grandchild, their parent or another relative to determine if they are safe, and report any suspicious solicitation to law enforcement.”

Mendez — who faces grand larceny and scheme to defraud charges — scammed three grandfathers and five grandmothers living in Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Clinton Hill, Bushwick, Brownsville, Marine Park and the Bronx up until May of this year, prosecutors said.

In each scam, someone pretending to be an attorney would call each of the victims and tell them their grandchild was arrested and being held in jail, according to the indictment.

The grandparent was told they needed to give cash in an envelope to bail out their grandchild. Mendez would then send a courier to pick up the envelope and deliver the money to him, prosecutors said.

The grandparents, who were between 74 and 90 years old, lost $3,000 to $20,000 in the scheme, prosecutors said.

Mendez was released without bail and ordered to return to court in February.