Woman Nearly Scammed Out Of $20K: Middletown Police

Middletown CT

14 July, 2021

1:07 AM

Description

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A woman was recently arrested in connection with a telephone scam in which a caller tried to steal nearly $20,000 from a Middletown resident by saying her nephew was arrested after an accident and needed to be bailed out, according to police. Police are warning residents about the incident, saying it's a "common tactic" that is used during telephone fraud schemes. "This can involve an intricate network of people and typically involves targeting the elderly with the intent to take money from them," Lt. Brian Hubbs wrote in a news release. "If you receive a call from someone outside your family claiming a loved one is incarcerated, determine which police department he/she is allegedly being detained at and contact that agency directly. Local Police departments will confirm whether or not someone by that name is in our custody." Middletown police were notified of the fraud incident on July 9. The Middletown resident received a call from a man who identified himself as "Public Defender Sandburg," according to Hubbs. "The 'Public Defender' told the resident that her nephew had been arrested after a car accident and that he was being held at the Cheshire Police Department," Hubbs wrote. "The resident was allowed to speak with someone who claimed to be the 'nephew' but the male stated he sounded different because of the accident. The 'nephew' told the resident that 'Public Defender Sandburg' could be trusted but he needed $9,500 to get bailed out. The resident was given a phone number for 'Public Defender Sandburg's' office but when she called back, she was directed to call a different number for his private line. "After a second call, 'Public Defender Sandburg' told the resident that the judge agreed to handle her nephew's case that day as a first-time offender to keep his record clean but he still needed the $9,500 in cash to get him out of jail. The resident was told that the court would not see her directly but she could give the cash to a bondsman that would come to her residence. She was instructed to place the cash in a bubble protected envelope. The resident was also told that her nephew needed a new T-shirt because he was injured in the accident and his shirt was bloody." Hubbs said the resident withdrew the $9,500 from the bank, purchased a bubble protected envelope, and placed the cash and a T-shirt in the envelope as instructed. A short time later, a vehicle arrived at her home and a woman got out of the car. The woman approached the resident and took the envelope. "The resident began to suspect the interaction was a scam so she contacted family members who confirmed that her nephew was not in custody or in danger," Hubbs said. "The resident then called the Middletown Police. "While the police were on scene, the resident received another call stating that her nephew needed more money to get out of jail. The resident called the numbers back she had from the earlier encounter and the same 'Public Defender' told her that her nephew needed an additional $18,000." Hubbs said the resident and the "Public Defender" negotiated the cost to $10,000. She was instructed to put the cash in an envelope and label it "First Offender Program." A short time later, a different vehicle pulled into the driveway and a different woman got out. Police quickly detained the woman at the residence and identified her by her passport as Emely Guzman-Hernandez, according to Hubbs. Hubbs said officers learned that Guzman-Hernandez came from Hartford. Guzman-Hernandez told police that she received a call from a friend who needed a "favor" in picking up money "from his aunt's house" in Middletown. Guzman-Hernandez then got a ride to Middletown, where she was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal attempt to commit second-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny. She was held in lieu of a $150,000 surety bond.