Elderly woman scammed out of $2,000 in fake bail money scheme in Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, PA — A 77-year-old woman was tricked out of $2,000 after falling victim to an elaborate phone scam involving suspects who posed as a jailed friend and a public defender, Wilkes-Barre City Police confirmed Wednesday.
The incident unfolded on November 5 just before 3:30 p.m., when the victim entered police headquarters to report that she had been deceived into handing over cash to a courier following a convincing series of phone calls.
According to police, the scam began when a man called the woman claiming to be a longtime friend who had just been arrested for serious charges, including possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment. He said he was using his one phone call to reach out for help.
The phone was then passed to another man pretending to be a public defender from Lackawanna County. He told the victim that bail had been set at $15,000, but that only $2,000 was needed to post bond since the “friend” already had $1,000 available.
The victim was given a fake case number and instructed to place the money into a marked envelope and wait for a designated courier. Shortly after, a gray Toyota Prius pulled up to her Wilkes-Barre home. The driver retrieved the envelope and left with the cash.
It wasn’t until later that the woman spoke to her actual friend and realized he had never been arrested.
Investigators are actively working the case and are urging residents to be alert to similar scams targeting elderly victims through impersonation and deception.
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Key Points
- A 77-year-old woman was scammed out of $2,000 in a fake bail money scheme
- Scammers posed as a jailed friend and a public defender, convincing her to hand over cash to a courier
- The case remains under investigation by Wilkes-Barre City Police