Montana Man Sends $17K To Long Island Address In Bail Scam: PD

AMITYVILLE, NY —Suffolk County Police are investigating a phone scam that involved a Montana man who shipped $17,000 in cash to an address in Amityville.

A 71-year-old man from Kalispell, Montana was recently contacted by a man claiming to be his son, police said. The man said he had been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle crash in which a pregnant woman was critically injured, police said. The man then received another call from a man claiming to be his son’s lawyer who directed him to send $17,000 in cash to cover bail expenses, police said.

Following instructions, the man sent the money to a location in Amityville, police said.

Financial crimes unit detectives were notified of the scam and the money was intercepted before it was delivered to the intended destination, police said.

Detectives are asking anyone who believes they may be a victim of a scam or anyone who has information about a scam to call the financial crimes unit at 631-852-6821.