Norwood Police Credit Uber Driver For Stopping Scam On Elder

NORWOOD, MA - The Norwood Police Department is crediting the quick thinking of an Uber driver from stopping a financial scam on an elderly resident.

Norwood Police Department Deputy Chief Chris Padden said in an interview on Wednesday that an 88-year-old woman received a call saying that she had won $2 million.

"In order to recieve the money, she was told that she would have to send a bank check for $1,500 somewhere," Padden said. "A couple of minutes later, an Uber driver showed up at her house to take her to Norwood Bank."

The woman also was told that another $1,500 would be due the following day, WCVB reported.

The Uber ride had been set up the scammer, and the driver had no knowledge of what was happening until the two started a conversation.

"The Uber driver began chatting with her, and the woman talked about getting a check so that she could claim her reward," Padden said. "The Uber driver realized something wasn't right and brought her to the police station."

Officers spoke with the victim and informed her that this is a scam that the department sees frequently.

"There were a couple of things that were really shady about it," Padden continued. "While the car was sitting at the police station, the scammer was able to track the car. Once that person realized where it was, the trip was canceled."

While this is a common scam, he said the Uber being sent to the home was "a new twist."

"These people target the elderly, who do not always drive," Padden explained. "So they get happy about getting the ride. It's kind of ingenious - sick but ingenious."

He added that a tip-off is that people should never request money of people who have supposedly won a prize.

"It should be counterintuitive to give someone money who has told you that you have won money," he noted.

Padden praised the Uber driver for her quick thinking.

"She really did a great thing," he said. "She stepped up and became a part of our community. She prevented that woman from being robbed of $1,500."

Another shakedown that is played upon the elderly is having someone pretending to be a relative asking for bail money to be sent to them.

"Sometimes people fall for it because they get so emotional," Padden said. "They just get caught up in it."

Padden said that cashiers are now more aware of another type of fraud. Older people are asked to buy gift cards and send them to a scammer.

"We see this at the grocery store and CVS a lot," he said. "An elderly person will want to buy $2,000 worth of gift cards. A cashier will usually realize that something is up."

Padden warned never to give out personal information to anonymous callers.