A Summerfield man who lives just outside The Villages realized he’d been caught up in a popular scam aimed at seniors Wednesday and called the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for help.
The man, who lives in the 16000 block of SE 84th Terrace, told a deputy that he received a phone call Tuesday at about 9 a.m. from a person claiming to be his grandson. He said the person told him he’d been in an accident and had been charged with driving under the influence. He also told the man to expect another phone call from “Legal Aid” to explain how he could help rectify the situation, a sheriff’s office report states.
The man said he then received another phone call and was instructed to send cash to expunge the DUI and free his grandson. The amount of money the man sent was redacted from the report, as was the information about the person who called him the second time.
After making the payment, the man said he tried to contact his grandson but wasn’t able to reach him. He said he then received a third call Wednesday morning seeking another payment to cover medical bills and expenses. The man said he then realized he had been scammed and hung up, the report says.