ELDERLY WOMAN ALMOST VICTIMIZED BY IMMIGRATION SCAM

An elderly woman was nearly scammed out of $1800 Friday by a caller who said she would be deported if she didn’t pay up. According to the Sheriff’s Department, the victim said she was contacted by telephone by someone who said he was an Immigration officer. The caller had spoofed his telephone number so that it appeared to be coming from a legitimate phone number. The caller said he would order her deported if she didn’t immediately pay $1,800 by Moneygram to the immigration agency. The woman said the caller sent a cab to her home to pick her up and drove her to Walmart to buy the Moneygram. A friend of the victim contacted the Sheriff’s Department about noon, who was able to work with Walmart and Moneygram to reverse the charges and get the woman’s money back. The Sheriff’s Department reminds residents that law enforcement and government agencies do not ask for money over the telephone. If you receive a call, even from someone who sounds legitimate, do not give them any personal information and do not pay them.