Irvine, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2017) – The Irvine Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in a scam in which two elderly victims were defrauded of more than $12,000.
The person of interest is described as a male, 20 to 30 years old, 5’7” and 150 pounds, who has a shaved head or very short hair and wears glasses. He has been seen at Target stores in Irvine.
In the case being investigated by IPD, two elderly women in other states were called by someone pretending to be each victim’s grandson. The caller, posing as the grandson, said he was in trouble and in need of money. The women were told to purchase Target gift cards and provide the gift card numbers over the phone. The women later learned their grandsons did not make the calls. The subject of interest has since been photographed at Irvine Target stores trying to redeem the gift cards.
If you can identify this suspect or have information on this case, please contact Irvine Police Department Detective Voigt at 949-724-7180 or svoigt@cityofirvine.org; or Detective Vickner at 949-724-7178 or bvickner@cityofirvine.org.
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