MIDDLETOWN – A Bronx man was charged with theft by deception after police said he tried to convince a township woman that her adult grandson was in jail and needed money for bail.

This time the tables were turned on the alleged scammers. Oscal Novas Bastista, 36, was taken into custody at the grandmother’s house when he showed up to collect the “bail” money late Wednesday afternoon, explained Middletown Deputy Police Chief Paul Bailey. 

The grandmother, who was not identified, called police after she got the suspicious call. Police informed the woman that she was the target of an attempted scam. Police then provided the resident with instructions to call the department back if anyone showed up at her house attempting to collect, Bailey said.

Related: Seniors face slew of online, phone scams. Here’s how to avoid the top ones.

About 3:55 p.m. Wednesday, Novas Bastista arrived at the woman’s home to pick up the money and the grandmother instead phoned the police as instructed, said the deputy police chief. 

Novas Bastista was arrested and taken to the Monmouth County Jail in Freehold Township on the theft by deception charge.

Here’s how they work

Sometimes referred to as the “bail scam,” the fraud involves a phone call to an elderly grandparent in which the person on the other end will purport to be the victim’s teenage or adult grandchild. Other elderly family members, such as aunts and uncles, have also been targeted elsewhere.

The caller will explain there has been a car crash in which injuries resulted to the other party. The fictional injured person is often characterized as a “pregnant woman” who is now in the hospital as a result of the accident.

Scams: Don’t let the Grinch ruin your holidays

The fake grandchild will then tell the victim that their lawyer will be calling the grandparent in order to get money for bail. When the second call comes, that person will identify themselves as the lawyer and tell the victim that bail has been set at an amount between $5,000 and $10,000, Bailey said.

When the victim agrees to come up with the bail, the caller tells them that someone from the law office or a courier will come to the house to receive the money. Many times, a follow-up phone call is made where the grandparent is informed that the pregnant woman, her unborn child, or both of them, have since died and therefore the bail money needed has increased, he said.

Related:Barnegat man scammed out of $10,000 after falsely told nephew is in trouble

The reported circumstances and the people claiming to be the relative, the lawyer, the bail bondsman and the courier; are all in on the scam. No such motor vehicle crash has occurred, no one is injured or dead, and the grandchild is just fine and in no trouble at all.

“It is all an elaborate lie told in a very convincing way,” Bailey said. “This scam has been actively perpetrated throughout the state.”

The Middletown Township Police Department urges anyone who receives such a call to contact their local law enforcement agency and report the call immediately.

The public is also advised to never provide personal information of any kind to unknown contacts or unsolicited callers.

Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or [email protected]

Source: Asbury Park

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