Elderly Manhattan Man Nearly Loses $10K Cash In Scam, Police Intervene And Thwart Fraud Attempt: Chief

MANHATTAN, IL — An elderly Manhattan resident averted a loss of nearly $10,000, after trusting his instinct and contacting authorities, Manhattan police said Friday.

At approximately 1 p.m., an elderly resident stopped by the Manhattan Police Department because something didn’t “feel right," police shared on social media.

Earlier in the day, the resident had gone to a bank and withdrawn $9,800 in cash after receiving a phone call claiming he needed to make a reimbursement payment due to alleged check fraud, police said. During the phone conversation, the caller used information and persuasive tactics to convince the victim that the payment was legitimate.

Officers went for a ride with the resident, police said, and learned that a rideshare service had been ordered to pick up the cash from the resident’s home moments after the resident and police arrived, to transport the money to Chicago.

"Fortunately, this story has a happy ending," Manhattan Police Ryan Gulli shared on social media. "Because the resident trusted his instincts and contacted the police, he did not lose $9,800 to a theft-by-deception scheme."

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, Gulli said.

"We are sharing this incident to remind everyone to keep a close eye on elderly family members, friends, and neighbors. We have seen an increase in scams like this recently, and they can happen to anyone at any time. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and contact us."