Crime & Safety
88-Year-Old Long Beach Man Scammed Out Of $5,500: Police
The man had called the 88-year-old victim claiming his grandson was injured and was to deliver the cash to him, detectives say.
LONG BEACH, NY — A Long Beach man was the victim of an elder scam on Tuesday afternoon.
Larry Urtarte, 28, of Paterson, New Jersey, was charged with grand larceny and fourth-degree grand larceny, police said.
The victim, 88, received a call from an unknown man stating his grandson was in an accident and needed money. He instructed the man to put $5,500 in a box with the label "M2125," detectives said.
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A person named "Richard" would pick up the money.
However, the victim alerted police after confirming his grandson was not injured. After handing the package to the man, police identified themselves and he fled.
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As detectives were placing Urtarte into custody he began to resist being handcuffed, police said.
He was also charged with resisting arrest. Urtarte is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday in Hempstead.
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