92-Year-Old Hingham Woman Falls Victim To Phone Scam

HINGHAM, MA — A 92-year-old Hingham woman fell victim to a phone scam that cost her $14,100, said Hingham Police Department in a news release Thursday.

Police said the type of phone scam the woman fell for, often referred to as an "Arrested Relative Scam", is common and the caller pretends to be a relative in trouble who needs money immediately.

The scam began on Dec. 15, when the woman received a phone call from a man claiming to be her son. He asked her to wire $8,100 to a bank account and told her not to tell anyone.

"Her 'son' said he had been assaulted, his arm was broken, and he was in trouble," said the news release. "He said he needed her help."

The woman believed the man was her son and, following a call from another man giving her specific bank information, wired the money to someone in Bronx, New York, said police. Although the woman's bank teller warned her that it might be a scam, the woman went ahead with the transfer.

On Dec. 16, the man called her again, telling her that the wired money had been delayed and she needed to send another $5,000 to help her son, said the news release. The woman's bank teller warned her a second time, but the woman wired the money anyway and added an extra $1,000.

Later confirming with family members that it was a scam, the woman reported it to police on Jan. 13.

Hingham police said similar scams have been reported by residents for several years.