Woman, 83, Out $4K After Phone Scam

An elderly woman who purchased nearly $4,000 in gift cards at the Wyckoff Walgreens was scammed of their monetary value, according to police.

The manager at the store noticed the 83-year-old woman buying the gift cards on several different occasions in the days leading up to July 17, police said. After conversations with the woman, the store reported to police that the woman may have been the victim of a scam.

In an investigation, Wyckoff Det. Daniel Kellogg found that the woman was informed by phone that she had won the lottery, but needed to pay fees in order to redeem her prize.

She reportedly purchased the gift cards and then read the serial numbers off to the caller, who was able to withdraw the funds remotely.

Wyckoff Police Chief Benjamin Fox said that though the department is investigating, “there is little chance that the woman’s money will be recovered.”