GREENWICH — Police regularly receive reports about attempted “grandma scams,” desperate pleas for help from a telephone caller claiming to be a grandson in distress — and needing money fast.
“The attempts happen quite often,” said Lt. Martin O’Reilly of the Greenwich police.
The long-running scam, typically targeting the elderly, resulted in an arrest this week of an alleged perpetrator of the fraud, police said.
The arrest came with a twist, according to Greenwich police: The suspect showed up in Riverside and was apprehended by police after a call from concerned citizens.
A Greenwich woman was recently contacted by a perpetrator claiming to be grandson who needed money, and she turned over $9,500 to a “courier” in person, O’Reilly said.
“He tried to get more money and came back again,” O’Reilly said. Some neighbors sensed trouble by the incident so they blocked the suspect’s car and called police, he said.
Armando Aquino-Jimenez, 37, of E. 193rd St., the Bronx, N.Y., was charged Monday afternoon with second-degree larceny, a felony, and resisting arrest, police said.
O’Reilly said seniors should be vigilant about callers who are seeking money in a hurry.
“Anytime someone calls in with an emergent situation,…
