Elderly Sterling Heights man scammed out of nearly $8,000

By Norb Franz
Macomb Daily Staff Writer

A Sterling Heights senior citizen was scammed out of nearly $8,000 after receiving a phone call from a man posing as his grandson and claiming he needed money for bail, police said Thursday.

The victim, who resides on Ortman Drive in the area of Mound Road and M-59, told police that the caller on Wednesday morning stated to him that he was jailed in New York and needed $4,000 to be released.

The elderly man – Sterling Heights police refused to divulge his exact age – reported that the caller “sounded a bit like his grandson, however the caller was upset and coughing,” police said.

The senior citizen wired $4,000 via Western Union to Spain, as he was directed by the caller to do, police said. Approximately one hour later, the elderly man received a phone call from a person who claimed to be his “grandson’s” lawyer and requested more money to cover the additional costs.

Duped again, the victim sent almost $4,000 via Western Union, again to Spain, police said.

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