Elderly Tredyffrin Man Scammed Out of $8,000; Police Issued Warning: Report

TREDYFFRIN, PA -- Police have issued a warning to the public after an elderly Tredyffrin man was reportedly scammed out of $8,000.

6ABC reports that the suspect called the 89-year-old victim and told him that his grandson was in "big trouble," claiming that he had been in a vehicle carrying illegal drugs and needed bail money immediately.

Someone on the other end of the line even pretended to be the victim's grandson, talking to the elderly man.

The victim was eventually told to load $8,000 onto Walmart and iTunes gift cards and to read the codes off the back, the report states.

Police urge residents to create a "code word" to let family know when they are really in trouble. Furthermore, no real government agency would ever ask for money over the phone, and residents should hang up immediately when these demands are made.

Patch file photo.