Elderly Hamptons Couple Foils Telephone Scammers: Police

NORTH SEA, NY —A New Jersey pair was foiled in their attempt to scam an elderly Hamptons couple, police said.

Steven Lugo, 19, and Angelina Velasco-Ramierez, 19, both from Patterson, NJ, were arrested Wednesday and charged with third degree attempted grand larceny, a felony, and fifth degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor, Southampton Town Police said.

A North Sea man received a call on Wednesday at noon claiming that his granddaughter had been arrested and was being held in New York City, police said. The caller asked for $15,000 for bail and said a courier would be sent to collect the money from the grandparents, police said.

The North Sea residents reached out to Southampton Town Police; officers were placed on surveillance to wait for the scammers to arrive, police said. When they arrived an officer pretending to be the homeowner spoke to the reported scammers, who were subsequently taken into custody, police said.

Due to bail reform the two were released on a field appearance ticket and told to report to court at a later date, police said.

Southampton Town Police urged individuals never to provide any personal information over the telephone and not to wire money to people they do not know.

"Police or courts will not request bail money over the phone and before sending money to your family or friends contact them to ensure that they are requesting the money," police said.