Elderly woman caught in $5,000 scam

An elderly Bloomfield Township woman became victim of a costly phone scam on Wednesday, July 11, when told that if she did not send $5,000 in cash, a family member would be jailed.

Bloomfield Township police responded to a call in the 6200 block of Telegraph Road for a fraud complaint, where the victim and her son informed officers that the woman had received a phone call stating that if she did not send $5,000 in cash to a specific address, a family member would be jailed.

The woman withdrew the money and sent it overnight express.

Her son became aware of the fraud and immediately called police to report it.

Bloomfield Township police said the case is currently under investigation, and warn that there are multiple scams victimizing residents, and if a call, email or letter requesting money or personal information is received, to first verify that the request is legitimate or call police for assistance.