Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputies in Addison Township want to get the word out about a possible senior citizen scam after an 82-year-old woman in Leonard was targeted last week.
According to the sheriff’s report, the Leonard resident received a suspicious phone call Jan. 31 from a woman claiming to be a representative from a senior citizen retirement home.
The caller asked the woman if ‘her age is between 60 and 80,? told her she ‘qualified? for some sort of coupons and wanted to set up a time to deliver them to her home.
The caller already had the woman’s address and said she’d be at the home around 4 p.m. Feb. 1. After receiving a second phone call from the same unkown caller around 11 a.m. Feb. 1, the woman thought something was suspicious and called the Addison substation.
A deputy was sent to watch the house during the time the delivery was to occur, but no one showed up.
Sgt. Pete Burkett, of the Addison substation, said this has been the only call they’ve had about this supposed coupon delivery, even though there are many senior citizens living in that same area.
‘That’s what makes it kind of suspicious,? he said. ‘Crime against seniors is really big. These people prey on senior citizens because they’re usually by themselves and they’re vulnerable.?
Burkett said he wants residents to make sure if they receive calls like this to never give out personal information such as credit card or social security numbers. ‘If you do happen to get a phone call (from) people wanting to meet with you, call us and we can put an extra patrol at the house,? he said. ‘Let us check it out.?
If you’ve experienced any suspicious phone calls or have any information about this scam, please call the Oakland County Sheriff’s Addison substation at (248) 628-3600.