LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) announced it received a report of a fraud scheme in which an Upper Lake man received a telephone call informing him of a relative who had supposedly been arrested outside of the country.
The unknown caller reportedly asked the alleged victim for money so the relative could be released from jail.
The Upper Lake resident said he received a telephone call Friday from someone identifying himself as “Frank Griffin,” who advised the man that his nephew was currently incarcerated in Peru, according to the LCSO.
“Griffin” requested that money be sent to him, so the nephew could be released from jail and returned home for Christmas, the LCSO said.
The alleged victim wired several thousand dollars to “Mary Blake” in Peru at a specified address, the LCSO said. Between each transfer, the man was contacted by “Griffin,” who asked for the confirmation number, authorities said.
The man reportedly found out after wiring the money that his nephew had not gone to Peru and was at home.
Friday”s report appears to be similar to a scheme occurring in 2009 and again this March, in which people were told to wire money because their grandchildren were in need, the LCSO said.
In March, a Kelseyville woman sent more $5,300 after being told her grandson was arrested in Canada, the LCSO said. The woman reportedly denied a third request for money and later learned the grandson had been in Redding the whole time.
In another case, the daughter of an Upper Lake woman called police after her mother was told a grandson was jailed in Spain, according to the LCSO, which said it intervened before the woman wired $2,000.
Authorities said many suspects have detailed information about the reportedly in-need relative.
The LCSO recommends people carefully scrutinize unsolicited requests of any kind before acting on them.
Additionally, phone calls from supposed relatives or on the behalf of relatives asking for money should always be verified by contacting the family members. People can also contact the LCSO before sending any money.
