NORTH HUNTINGDON, PA – In a swift response, North Huntingdon Township Police arrested two men involved in a grandparent scam that targeted a local couple. The incident occurred on May 29, 2024, when the couple was deceived into believing their grandson needed bail money.
A man, pretending to be a bail bondsman, contacted the victims and claimed their juvenile grandson was detained, requesting $18,000 in cash for bail. He directed the couple to the 7th precinct in Greensburg. However, upon arrival at the Greensburg Police Department, the couple discovered there were no precincts in the city and that their grandson was not in custody.
Less than two hours after the initial scam call, police were dispatched to the couple’s home due to a report of a male trespassing. Upon arrival, officers found two men in a vehicle parked in the driveway. These individuals provided the same names as those given to the victims over the phone. The suspects, identified as Jean Mendoza and Jason Alvarez, both from New York, were arrested at the scene.
Mendoza and Alvarez have been charged with attempted theft by deception and trespassing. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the prevalence of phone scams targeting grandparents and the importance of verifying any such emergency claims independently before taking action.