FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2020

GRANNY SCAM THWARTED THROUGH QUICK ACTION BY POLICE AND THE UNITED PARCEL SERVICE

On May 19, 2020 at 5:37 PM the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department received a fraud report from a family member of an 83 year old East Goshen Township resident. The family member learned that the victim received a call from “her grandson” who needed $12,000.00 dollars in cash mailed to an address in Miami, Florida. The caller identified himself as a police official and reported that the grandson was in custody for drugs after a traffic stop.

The victim drove to a UPS Store and mailed $12,000.00 in one hundred dollars bills to the address provided in Florida.

The Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department launched an immediate investigation to track the package of cash and determined that the cash was in transit from West Chester to the United Parcel Service terminal at the Philadelphia International Airport which is in Tinicum Township. WEGO PD contacted the Tinicum Police Department who contacted the UPS Security Supervisor who was working at the terminal.

The UPS Security Supervisor and his team intercepted the envelope of cash when it arrived to the facility and immediately turned it over to a member of the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department. The seized cash was returned to family members this morning.

WEGO PD continues to investigate this case with the Miami (FL) Police Department.

The Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department reminds residents to never fall for these scams or send money or purchase pre-paid credit cards for a family member without first checking the information and validating the emergency. The individuals behind the scams are very convincing and will normally urge the person to keep the matter confidential.

William Cahill

Detective/Lieutenant

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