Delco Man Scammed $15,000 In Cash From Virginia Senior: DA

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — A Delaware County man is accused of stealing $15,000 in cash from a senior citizen in Virginia through an online scam, authorities said.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said Wednesday that George Thomas Terry Jr., 59, of Sharon Hill, was arrested for theft and receiving stolen property in connection with the scam.

Terry has been charged with felony theft by unlawful taking, felony theft by deception, and felony receiving stolen property.

Terry's arrest comes on the heels of an investigation launched by a call from a sheriff’s office in Virginia to the Darby Township Police Department.

The sheriff told police they were contacted by a senior resident who believed that he was the victim of a scam artist in Darby.

According to the DA's office, the victim told investigators that he got a call from someone who identified himself as an employee of a computer support subscription company.

The victim was told that a subscription was about to renew automatically.

To prevent that, the victim was asked to give the caller remote access to his computer. Using that access, the victim’s bank account was manipulated.

Ultimately, the victim was persuaded to mail $15,000 in cash to an address in Darby Township.

Shortly after mailing the cash, the victim realized that he had been the victim of a scam, and the Darby Township Police Department was alerted.

Darby Police and Delaware County detectives conducted a surveillance of the property in Darby to which the package containing the cash had been mailed.

As a result of that surveillance, the Terry taken into custody when the package was delivered to him.

Terry was released after posting 10 percent of $5,000 bail on May 18.

A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for May 27.