Elderly Resident Targeted By 'Grandparent Scam' In Barrington

BARRINGTON, RI — Barrington police are asking residents to be on the look for scammers posing as police officers over the phone to steal money.

Police said they recently got a report of a "grandparent scam." During the scam, someone called an elderly Barrington resident on their home phone and told them their grandson was charged with drunken driving. The scammer told the grandparents they needed a large sum of money for bail, police said.

Police said the elderly resident then went to the bank, withdrew the money and provided it to the scammer, who came and collected it from their house later that day.

Anyone with information or who receives a similar call is asked to call Barrington police at 401-437-3935.