In today’s digital age, while many scammers have taken to the internet to find their victims, some still rely on the age-old method of phone calls.
Their primary targets? The elderly.
These fraudsters often pose as a family member, typically a child or grandchild, claiming they’ve been in an accident and urgently need money for legal or medical fees.
The elderly, being inherently trusting and always willing to help their family, often fall prey to these cruel tricks.
Suzanne Turner of FBI San Diego sheds light on this, stating,
“Our seniors are usually very trusting, polite, not likely to say no; and these are the exact characteristics these criminal organizations are looking for.”
One such senior who has been on the radar of these scammers is Jean Ebbert, a 73-year-old mother, grandmother, crossword enthusiast, and a retired 911 dispatcher.
Jean had received scam calls in the past but always disconnected immediately.
However, one day, she decided to engage with the caller.
The man on the other end was sobbing, leading Jean initially to believe it was her son-in-law, known for his pranks.
But she soon discerned the true nature of the call.
Keeping her wits about her, Jean played along.
She shared with LIHERALD:
“I told him, ‘Oh my god, don’t call your mother, she’ll be mad! Let me handle this!’ So they thought I was falling for it.”
The scammer spun a tale about her grandson being involved in a drunken car accident, requiring $8,000 for bail.
He was quite the trickster.
To make their story more convincing, the scammer provided Jean with a phone number, a “case number”, and even a fictitious attorney’s name.
They arranged to meet at Jean’s residence for the handover of the “bail” money.
Meanwhile, Jean was not just sitting idle.
She texted her son about the situation and also informed the local police, ensuring they were in the loop about her plan.
Then it was time to get her sweet revenge.
As planned, two police officers discreetly positioned themselves at Jean’s home.
When the scammer arrived to collect the money, Jean handed him an envelope.
But instead of the expected cash, it was filled with mere paper towels.
Jean admits she was apprehensive, pondering, “What if he has a gun? What if police have to shoot him?”
But she bravely went ahead with her plan.
As soon as the scammer took the envelope, the officers sprang into action, apprehending him on the spot.
The man, later identified as Joshua Estrella Gomez from Mineola, was arrested and charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny.
This brave grandmother not only protected herself but also ensured that a scammer was taken off the streets.
To get a firsthand account of this thrilling encounter, you can watch Jean narrate her experience in the video below!
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Source: YouTube – NBC News, LIHERALD
