RI Woman Charged In Tiverton Grandparent Scam

TIVERTON, RI — A Providence woman was arrested last Wednesday after police said she scammed a 70-year-old Tiverton resident out of $9,000 and tried to steal an additional $7,000.

Luz Henriquez, 29, was charged with felony obtaining money under false pretense and felony conspiracy.

Last Wednesday, police received a call from the elderly resident about a possible scam. The resident told police he received a call from a person claiming to be his grandson. The caller said he was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident and was arrested. The man told the caller, who he believed to be his grandson, that he would help.

A short time later, the man received a second call from a person claiming to be the attorney representing the grandson. The caller told the man bail was set at $9,000 and a courier would come to pick it up. Police said the caller instructed the man to stay on the phone. The caller then directed the resident to walk outside his home and hand the money to a person waiting in a vehicle, police said.

Several hours later, the resident received another call from a person, again claiming to be the grandson’s attorney, requesting an additional $7,000 to settle the case. The resident again went to his local bank to withdraw money.

When the bank teller became suspicious of the withdrawals, the bank told the resident to speak with police prior to any further transactions. The resident then called his grandson and confirmed the calls were a scam.

Officer Jason Kobelecki along with Detectives Joshua Pelletier and Matthew Braun worked with the resident to arrange the delivery of the $7,000 under the surveillance of officers. Later that evening, officers arrested Henriquez after police said she attempted to get the $7,000.

Police said Henriquez was arraigned in Newport District Court, and the case will be referred to the Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.