Scammer bilks $9,500 from 85-year-old

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a report from an 85-year-old Minden woman who said she sent nearly $9,500 to a man who claimed to be her son jailed in Canada.

The victim told deputies a man telephoned her March 4, claiming to be her son, and said he was in jail in Canada and needed $4,000 bail.

She said the caller didn't sound like her son, but he told her he had a bad cold.

The victim sent the money through Western Union, and the suspect called the next two days for $2,660 for attorney's fees and $2,500 to travel back to the United States.

The victim wired the additional funds.

After the final cash transfer, the victim said she was talking with her grandson by telephone and he told her his father had never been arrested.

She called her son who told her to contact the sheriff's office.

The woman said the suspect called again, and she told him she'd filed a police report. She said he called two times after that trying to get more money from her.