Crime & Safety

Phone Call Scam on the Rise

San Marino residents have been reporting more incidents of a scam in which someone calls them and asks for money to help the resident's relative after a fictitious accident.

The has received several reports in the last few weeks from elderly residents who are being targeted in a phone scam, Sergeant Jay Wilburn told Patch Tuesday.

The scam involves someone calling the San Marino resident and saying one of the resident’s relatives has been in an accident outside the country and needs money to be transferred in order to help the relative.

, but it is unclear if these calls are connected.

Find out what's happening in San Marinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Wilburn said he believes one San Marino resident has fallen for the scam so far and paid out money to try and help a long lost family member.

“It’s sad when you have someone with good intentions who gets victimized,” said Wilburn.

Find out what's happening in San Marinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One of the most recent incidents occurred on

In another incident, the targeted residents were told their grandson had been in an accident in Peru, but the victims knew their grandson was alive and well at so they reported the call to San Marino Police.

Since the phone calls usually originate out of the country and on a cell phone, it is difficult to track down the scammer.

Even if police find the culprit, prosecution is often difficult since any victims who fall for the scam make voluntary payments, as opposed to being threatened to give money, said Wilburn.

Wilburn offers these tips to residents who get a phone call from someone asking for money to help a relative:

  • Confirm the identity of who you are talking to on the phone.
  • Be especially cautious if the caller mentions overseas accounts.
  • Report these kinds of calls to police so they can investigate them.

Have you or someone you know gotten a phone call from someone asking for money for a relative? Tell us the comment box below. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.