police warn residents of telephone scam

[sammy]

Police are warning residents to be wary of a telephone scam in which a caller poses as a family member who is in trouble and needs cash.

Two San Bruno women, 76 and 74 years old, have been targeted by the con so far and lost a total of about $5,000, said San Bruno police Cmdr. Matt Campi.

Police said people who get the calls should verify the caller's identity before sending any money.

In one case, the caller claimed to be a relative who was in Canada and needed money.

He persuaded the victim to wire him money. In the other, the scammer posed as an attorney of a family member and persuaded the victim to wire money, also to Canada, Campi said.

After sending cash, both victims later found out their relatives were safe and the calls were frauds.

But the scam was persuasive because the caller knew the names of actual family members, police said.

Police ask anyone with information on these or similar crimes to call 650-616-7100.