Franklin PD seeking scam suspects
FRANKLIN — The Franklin Police is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the two females involved in an alleged "grandparent scheme".
On April 12, at approximately 1:10 p.m., a victim from Apollo Beach, Fla., to the alleged scam. In a typical "grandparent scam," a con artist calls or emails the victim posing as a relative in distress or someone claiming to represent the relative (such as a lawyer or law enforcement agent). The "relative" of the grandparent explains she/he is in trouble and needs his/her grandparent to wire him/her funds that will be used for bail money, lawyer’s fees, hospital bills, or another fictitious expense.
In this case the victim was told that her grandson, who resides in California, needed funds to bond out of jail for a narcotics offense. When the victim refused to give her debit card number over the phone, the scammer asked the victim to purchase Wal-Mart gift cards. The victim did in fact purchase the cards, for $2,000, in Florida rather than give her debit card number.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida advised the Franklin Borough Police that they believe the cards were used in the Franklin WalMart located at 230 State Highway 23 in Franklin Borough. While investigating, a history of the gift cards was obtained.
On April 12, 2018 at 3:32 p.m. two gift cards were used for $550 and for $400 in the Franklin WalMart. The females, who appear to be of Asian descent, purchased a few cases of dried noodles similar to that of Ramen noodles, a case of toilet paper, and several hundred dollars of calling cards with the same gift cards that were purchased by the victim.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident or anyone who can positively identify these individuals is asked to contact the Franklin Borough Police Detective Bureau at 973-827-7700, Ext. 231 or email Det. Sgt. Nevin Mattesich at nmattesich@franklinpd.org.