Woman, 78, loses $150,000 in scam

EVERETT — A 78-year-old woman has been bilked out of nearly $150,000 in a scam that began with a phone call, Everett police announced today.

Investigators believe the woman sent the money over several months to people who claimed she had $500,000 waiting for her in customs. The woman was told to send money to hold two $250,000 checks and was told to keep the information confidential, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.

The woman first wired $2,700. More phone calls from the suspects followed and the woman sent additional payments to pay for fake duties, luxury fees and taxes, Goetz said. The scam drained the woman’s reverse mortgage account and eventually the woman was sending cash.

Everett detectives is working with the FBI and U.S. Secret Service to track down the people responsible for scamming the woman out of her savings.

Police caution people to avoid “too good to be true” offers. The frauds often begin in similar ways. People are told they’ve won a sweepstakes or that a large amount of money is waiting for them to claim. They are asked to keep the information confidential and often involves out of country money transfers. Anyone who has been made similar offers are advised to call their local police department.