On Thursday afternoon, March 6, an emerging scam was brought to the attention of the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, and subsequently shared with the Somerville Police Department. A 90-year-old Somerville woman was the victim of a “grandparent scam” last week, according to police.

The woman willingly provided funds to an unknown caller posing as an out-of-state attorney, who asked her to assist her “grandson.” She was told her grandson had been arrested in the state where he resides on OUI charges.

On Tuesday, March 4, she was asked by someone purporting to be the grandson’s attorney to visit a bank, withdraw a certain amount of cash and deliver it to a specified local business for direct transfer to the attorney for her grandson’s bail. After asking to speak with her grandson, she was granted the opportunity to briefly say hello to a person she believed to be her grandson on the other line. She received a second call later on that afternoon asking for additional funds in the same manner, which she carried out. When she was finally able to make contact with other family members Wednesday, she discovered that her actual grandson was fine, and then reported the incident to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office Thursday. The matter is currently under investigation.

Residents are reminded to never give out personal information via telephone and to be vigilant of similar scams. There have been several similar scams in recent months elsewhere in the state, and almost always more than one call is presented. If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, contact the Somerville Police Department at 617-625-1212.