Police Blotter: Grandma Recognizes Scam
The following information was supplied by the Buffalo Grove Police Department. Arrests do not indicate a conviction. Email cristel@patch.com with questions about this blotter.
COMPLAINT
A resident of the 1100 block of Dayton Road reported that his neighbor trimmed three of the resident’s trees without the resident’s permission on April 8. The resident did acknowledge that the trees have grown partially over into the neighbor’s yard. An officer was unable to make contact with the neighbor.
A resident reported that someone posted harmful and hurtful information about her on a dating service website between March 4 and March 27. The resident believes this person to be her ex-boyfriend.
DRUGS
Jana Jakovenko, 25, of the 100 block of Lake Boulevard, Buffalo Grove, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving in the wrong lane and illegal lane use at 9:30 p.m. April 11 on the 400 block of South Buffalo Grove Road.
FOUND ITEM
A resident of the 1200 block of Bristol Lane turned in a black plastic digital scale that she found in the parking lot of the complex on April 11. The bag that the scale was in had a strong odor of cannabis.
SUSPICIOUS PHONE CALL
A resident reported that she received a phone call from a person claiming to be her grandson at 9:20 a.m. April 11. The resident suspected that the call was a scam and she hung up. Caller ID indicated that the call came from Montreal, Canada.
Jana Jakovenko
10:17 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012
Hello.
Who can I talk to about getting back my scale? I need that for my bidnezz, I mean business,transactions.
Also, Gramma why'd you hang up on me? I was just calling from Montreal to let you know I was in jail and needed you to western union me some $ to get out of jail! You see, I was was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving in the wrong lane and illegal lane use at 9:30 p.m. April 11 on the 400 block of South Buffalo Grove Road, and they screwed up and took me to a Canadian jail. Weird huh? I used my one phone call, and you Hung up on me!
Now, please excuse me - I have to trim my neighbors dam, I mean my - yeah MY, trees and check on my eHarmony.com profile, my inbox is going crazy over there, wonder what's up?
What the hell? Oh, no he didn't! Harold, you bastard! You promised to keep the story I told you about the mule, the cucumber and the honey covered banana trick I used to do in high school private! I'm gonna get you Harold, wait till my gramma hears about this!
Michael Dwells
1:15 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2012
"A resident reported that she received a phone call from a person claiming to be her grandson at 9:20 a.m. April 11."
-- So this scam's still on? It's been around for quite some time already and people should be aware by now. But on second thoughts, this scam targets seniors and take advantage of the love and concern grandparents naturally have for their grandchildren. From the reports posted at http://www.callercenter.com alone, most victims admitted they were usually skeptical about anonymous calls but as soon as they heard it was their "grandchild" on the other line, they got worried and wanted to help right away. It may be very impulsive reaction but it's normal.