Police In Abington Said Elderly Residents Were Recently Targeted In A Fraud Incident

ABINGTON, PA — Local police are warning elderly residents to be on high alert after an incident of fraud that recently took place against an older couple in the township.

Police were made aware of an incident on Thursday in which an Abington couple reported they were the victims of fraud.

The residents reported that a man had contacted them by phone to say that the victims' grandson was in legal trouble in another state, and that they needed to send "substantial funds" in order to help bail the grandson out of jail, according to police.

"The residents, concerned for their grandson's well-being, agreed to pay the money," the Abington Police Department wrote in a news release. "One suspect arrived at their home and took a sum of several thousand dollars in cash from the couple, but was short of the total agreed to by the couple. Later in the day, another male arrived at the home and took the remainder of the agreed amount."

Police did not specify the exact dollar amount that was reportedly requested by the suspects.

The suspects were described by the victims as men in their 20s, possibly Hispanic or Black, and security footage from a nearby camera showed that one of the men wore a blue shirt and black shorts.

The vehicle driven by the suspects is described as being a grey SUV or crossover.

Abington Police said that this type of crime is often perpetuated against elderly residents. They said a third party will typically contact the victim or victims and ask for money on behalf of a supposed relative.

"If you receive a call of this nature, you are asked to contact the police and file a report," police stated.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Abington Police Department's Detective Division at 267-536-1100.