Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Elderly Lawrenceburg Man Bilked Out Of $300 In Scam
An elderly Lawrenceburg man filed a complaint with local law enforcement officers late last week, saying that he had been bilked out of more than $300 in what turned out to be a scam.
The victim, age 86, stopped by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Friday to report the matter. He said he had received telephone calls from a man who identified himself as “Richard Gilmore.” Gilmore informed him he would be receiving a large amount of money if first he forwarded to him $285.
The victim said that he asked Gilmore whether this was a fraud, but that Gilmore assured him it was not.
The victim reportedly wired $285 via Western Union to the Carbondale, Colorado address. After paying fees associated with the transfer, the victim’s loss totaled $309.
After a time, the victim said he decided to “check into it being a scam.” By the time he found that it was, indeed, a scam, he said it was too late to stop the funds from being transferred.
Since the incident occurred on June 30, the victim said he has continued to be contacted in the same manner. At one point the caller informed his he would have his credit card bill paid in full in exchange for sending them $500. In another, the caller claimed if he forwarded funds he would be sent money and a Mercedes Benz.
Investigation into the matter is currently continuing through the department’s Criminal Investigation Division.
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