The Ramapo Police Department issued an alert to local residents warning of the scam, which saw the elderly woman taken for a total of $2,224 before her bank realized that she was being defrauded.
Police said that the 87-year-old woman received a call on Wednesday stating she had won a million dollars and would have to write a money order to receive the prize prompting her to send two separate MoneyGrams to the caller.
After receiving the money, police said the scammer called the victim back again and requested an additional $4,000 before the prize could be collected. The woman was in the process of sending the money when her bank recognized the scam and contacted a relative to stop her.
“This is just one of the ever-growing telephone scams that are out there,” police warned. “Remember to be careful when dealing with parties on the telephone, and never give out personal information.”
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