Tewksbury Police Search For Two Women Who Swindled Victims In Five States

TEWKSBURY - Police are asking for the public's help to identify two females who have allegedly swindled more than $12,000 from victims across five states by using the "Grandparents Scam.''

Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan said the two women - a white female with blonde hair who used a a fraudulent Pennsylvania driver's license under the name of Allison Blake and an Hispanic female who used the name Oliva Smith on a bogus Ohio driver's license - were involved in a number of grandparent scams.

Police say a grandparent will receive a call claiming a grandchild is in jail and needs money for bail to be wired to a location.

In a recent incident, Brayan Soto-Soriano, 26 and Alan Feliz, 19, both of Lawrence, were charged with larceny over $250 on a person over 60. Tewksbury police allege that they picked up $2,275 that was wired to the Tewksbury Wal-Mart by an 82-year-old Tennessee woman who fell victim to this scam.

In the case of the two women, Sheehan alleges they stole money from victims in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia and Washington.

"These two subjects have played a part in a heinous scam that has caused a lot of grief and placed undue financial strain on a number of vulnerable families. These two women need to be held accountable for their actions,'' he said.