Man Bilked Killingworth Resident In 'Grandson Scam': State Police

KILLINGWORTH, CT — A Rhode Island man has been charged with defrauding a Killingworth resident out of thousands of dollars in a "grandson scheme," according to state police. Waldy Santiago, 25, of Providence, RI, was charged with second-degree attempt to commit criminal larceny and conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny.

The alleged scammers called the 80-year-old victim Aug. 25 and told him that his grandson was involved in a crash and had been arrested for DUI. The victim was then told to bring $6,500 in cash to pay the grandson's bond.

The victim then withdrew cash in $100-dollar bills and was told to give the money an Uber driver acting as a courier. The victim later realized it was a scam when he called his grandson who was away at college in North Carolina and assured him he had not been arrested.

The victim then called Connecticut State Police Troop F to report the theft.

Santiago was later arrested and released on a $175,000 bond. He was scheduled for arraignment in Middletown Superior Court on Nov. 8.

The "grandson scheme" is a common scam, and police are warning residents to watch out for it. More information on how the scam works is available at the state police website.