Reports of grandparent scams surge amid pandemic



Investigations have led to arrests and charges, and the FBI is pursuing leads in the U.S., Canada, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere, Takacs says. Among those recently arrested was

Osvaldo Thomas, 41, a New Yorker from the South Bronx. He is facing criminal charges for an alleged crime spree across the Garden State and has been charged in Camden, Middlesex and Sussex

counties. In Blackwood, New Jersey, a victim was told a grandson was involved in a car crash and jailed. To amplify the urgency, the victim also was told the grandson may have COVID-19 and

“may not receive proper care if he were in jail for several days,” Camden County court records show. The victim withdrew $27,000 from a bank. A courier — allegedly Thomas — came to the

victim's residence to pick up the cash, records show. Psychological Tricks Scammers Use A FRIGHTENING ESCALATION The FBI calls the at-home pickup a “frightening escalation” of the scam,

since in times past a victim might be instructed to wire funds to the bad guys. “Any time a criminal comes to your home, you are extremely vulnerable,” says Gregory Ehrie, who just retired

as special agent in charge in the FBI's Newark office. Sometimes crooks send a cab to pick up the money, or arrange for a cab to take the victim to a bank for a withdrawal and a courier

to collect the money, Takacs says. Thomas also was charged in a $18,800 grandparent scam in Middlesex County, where records said he and his white Toyota Prius have been linked to scams

involving 11 older victims across the state. How did the FBI track him down? Court documents detail surveillance-camera footage, a description of his Prius and a GPS tracker that

investigators placed on the Prius on May 8, when State Police collared him on the New Jersey Turnpike at Secaucus. Thomas also admitted to accepting $10,300 from a victim in Cherry Hill, New

Jersey, and “delivering it to his co-conspirators for a portion of the proceeds,” court records show. ANOTHER NEW YORKER COLLARED In Hunterdon County, New Jersey, police arrested a

different New York man April 30 after his accomplice called a victim saying a grandson had been in a drunk-driving accident, officials said. The victim sent cash via the mail, but

authorities intercepted it before delivery. After the scammer called again for more cash, police set up surveillance and arrested Mar F. Moran, from Yonkers, as he approached the

victim's residence for the money.