Phone scam targets Redlands senior, costs her $15,000
Police say caller posed as daughter in jail; case is part of growing trend of elder fraud in the city
REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands police are investigating a case of elder fraud after a 75-year-old woman was scammed out of $15,000 in cash by a caller claiming her daughter had been arrested and needed bail money.
The incident occurred Friday, April 4, when the victim received a phone call instructing her to withdraw the cash, conceal it in a book, and place the book inside a box for a courier to retrieve. The woman became suspicious and wrote down the license plate of the man who picked up the package. A second phone call came shortly after, urging her to withdraw more money.
When the woman returned to her bank, employees recognized the signs of fraud and called police — as well as the victim’s daughter, who had not been arrested. The investigation is ongoing.
The case is part of a growing trend of scams targeting older adults in Redlands. Community Forward Redlands recently reported on a similar scam in which a man impersonated a federal agent to steal thousands of dollars from a local senior, and another case where a 74-year-old woman reported handing over $21,000 to a man who claimed to have a federal court order.
Redlands police urge residents and their families to be cautious of urgent phone calls requesting cash, especially when involving loved ones or law enforcement impersonators. Anyone with information is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681, ext. 1.
Non-emergency crimes can be reported online at www.cityofredlands.org/report-crime or via the City of Redlands 311 mobile app.
