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A 79-year-old woman got a call Tuesday night from a man pretending to be her grandson, Detective Sgt. Anthony Fugnitti told Daily Voice.
He told her he'd been busted for pot and needed bail money, the sergeant said.
He then put someone on the phone who claimed to be a police officer.
She was to buy $1,800 worth of iTunes cards, call him back and then read him the numbers -- which she did, Fugnitti said.
The woman lost her money, as did another in her late 50s who fell victim Wednesday to a telephone IRS scam, he said.
The caller told her she owed the IRS $1,100 but could square accounts and not get into any trouble if she bought that much in iTunes gift cards and followed the same steps as the previous victim.
Both victims went to police after suspecting they'd been scammed.
"Unfortunately by then it's too late," Fugnitti said.
The sergeant warned citizens not to fall for any of the various ruses -- and urged those with elderly relatives to discuss the scams with them.
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