Man Attempts to Swindle almost $10K from Fort Washington Woman, Police Say

Whitemarsh Police responded to the home of an 86-year-old Fort Washington woman after she said she received a call from a man identifying himself as a Las Vegas police officer. 

According to police, the man on the phone said that he had the woman's grandson in custody and was requesting $9,800 for his release. 

The woman said the man on the phone identified himself as "Capt. Brian O'Connell" and said that her grandson was in custody for drugs and firearms violations, police said.

The woman was given a "1-877" number to call; she was told she would then receive instructions on how to wire the money to free her grandson, police said. 

The woman reached out to a family member and determined her grandson was not in trouble -- though the caller did use her grandson's name. 

No money was wired. 

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