ICYMI: Home Aide Foiled $25,000 Bogus Bail Scam In Seaford: PD

SEAFORD, NY — A quick-thinking aide stepped in to fend off a would-be scammer after the elderly Seaford woman she cared for was contacted by a bogus court officer for $25,000 bail to free her grandson from jail over a drunken driving charge on Thursday, Nassau County police said.

Police said at about 11:30 a.m., an "unknown male" contacted the 90-year-old woman stating he was a court officer and that her grandson was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated and that he needed $25,000 bail to release him. The woman's home aide, who believed the call might be a scam, called a relative to confirm the woman's grandson was not arrested, alerted detectives from the Major Case Squad, and a "transaction was arranged," police said.

The home aide requested "a receipt" in exchange of the payment, according to police. At about 1:45 p.m., Osvaldo Vallejo-Perez, 21, of 106 Fort Washington Ave., arrived driving a blue Acura, and when he got out of the car, approached the woman's house and "accepted an envelope that he believed contained the money," police said.

Vallejo-Perez was charged with third-degree grand larceny and resisting arrest. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable to First District Court in Hempstead on April 29, 2021.