A Howell Couple fell victim to wire fraud on Sept. 24, when they received a call from someone identifying himself as their grandson and asking for money to be wired to Mexico City, Mexico, according to a police report.
The couple told police that the person said he was in jail at the American Embassy in Mexico City, then another man told them their grandson had been arrested for possession of marijuana and would remain in jail for four to six weeks, unless $2,000 was wired to them to pay for bond as well as an attorney, the report said.
The couple was told to call back and ask for Jeffrey Bennett after the wire transfer had been completed. After the return call, they were advised their grandson did not want the Mexican attorney the money had paid for, but wanted an American attorney, and they should wire an additional $2,500 or their grandson would remain jailed for six to eight weeks, the report said.
Both wire transfers were made from Walmart, according to police. After both transfers were made, the woman told police she contacted her grandson in Texas, who stated he was not and had never been in jail in Mexico City.
The money transfers could not be cancelled because both money-grams had already been picked up, the second from Ecatepec De Morelos, a city in the State of Mexico and the country of Mexico. A search warrant or legal subpoena would have to be completed to gather further information about who picked up the money order, the report said.
A total of $4,590 was stolen, including the $40 and $50 money order fees.
