Grandmother, 90, Scammed Out Of $8,500 In Montco: Cops

LOWER PROVIDENCE, PA — A 90-year-old woman in Lower Providence was scammed out of $8,500 by suspects who claimed her grandson had been in an accident, police said.

The incident occurred on Jan. 6 at around 9 a.m. when the victim received a call in her apartment in Shannondell at Valley Forge, a local retirement community.

The caller identified himself as "Robert Stevens from the public defender's office" and told the woman her grandson had been arrested for driving under the influence, police said.

The scammer then put a second person on the phone, who "confirmed" this information, and demanded $8,500 for bail money, according to authorities.

The elderly woman said that she wanted to help, but that she couldn't drive anywhere to get money, and would have to search for it in her apartment. Once she counted up the cash, the caller told her that someone would come by to pick it up. He added that her grandson didn't want her to tell anyone about the situation, police said.

At around 1 p.m., the man sketched above arrived at the woman's apartment and took the envelope of cash from her, authorities said. He then gave her a carbon copy receipt for the transaction.

The suspect is described as a light-skinned Hispanic male with green eyes, dark wavy hair, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and of an average build. He had trouble speaking English.

Two phone numbers were used in the scam: 404-342-6754 and 813-556-6202.

If you have any information, contact Detective Charles King at cking@lowerprovidence.org or 610-635-3554.