Crime

Detectives bust alleged scammer targeting Bellmore senior

Posted

A Manhattan man was arrested in Bellmore after allegedly trying to scam a senior out of thousands of dollars, police said.

A 72-year-old Bellmore man on Wednesday was contacted by a man who claimed to be his grandson. The caller said that he needed bail money, and gave the 77-year-old a number to call and set up the amount and instructions on how to deliver the money.

The Bellmore man, according to police, had heard about a spate of ongoing scams targeting the elderly, and called Nassau County police. The man then helped detectives set up a sting operation: He called the number and set up a meeting to deliver $7,000, describing what he would be wearing.

A Nassau detective dressed himself as the senior described, and headed to the Bellmore Stop & Shop with other detectives to meet the suspect. Detectives confirmed the transaction and placed Rafael Sanchez, 37, of Manhattan, into custody.

He was charged with third-degree attempted grand larceny and second-degree criminal impersonation.