Windsor police are investigating after an elderly couple were allegedly scammed out of $16,500 by people posing as police.
Investigators were called to a Windsor home by a 38-year-old male who alleged his 73-year-old father and 69-year-old mother were victims of a scam.
Officials say the couple apparently received a call from a male they believed was their son, telling them he had been in a car accident.
The phone was then passed to another male claiming to be a police officer who said their son was in a car accident in the Dominican Republic and was charged with criminal negligence.
The phone was then passed to a third male claiming to be a lawyer who instructed the parents to send money to get their son out of prison and pay for damage.
They were allegedly told to go to a gas station to buy prepaid Visa cards, then to scratch the cards and provide serial numbers over the phone, cut up the cards and mail them to an address provided along with the receipts. They were also advised not to contact anyone regarding the incident.
After complying the first time, the female was contacted twice more by the same person. On the second occasion more money was sent, but on the third occasion they told the caller the bank was closed and they couldn't get the money.
At that point the couple became suspicious and contacted their son, and realized they were victims of a fraud scam, but they had already used their line of credi and credit card to pay for pre-paid cards totalling $16,500.
Windsor Police are reminding the public to remain vigilant and never give out personal information and when in doubt hang up and call a friend, relative or the police for advice.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Windsor police at 519-255-6700 ext. 4330, Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or to go online at www.catchcrooks.com.
