Lemont Police Warn of Telephone Scams

Lemont police are urging residents—especially senior citizens—to be on the alert for telephone scams.

Recently, an elderly resident in Lemont received a phone call from a person who identified himself as an attorney from Springfield, PA, who claimed to be representing the victim's grandson, police said.

A second person then got on the phone and identified himself as the victim's grandson, and said, "Help me, Grandma." The first individual then got back on the phone and directed the victim to send money to Peru, and continued to do so through a series of phone calls asking for more money, police said.

"It sounds preposterous, but there are plenty of examples where people get confused and their loved ones need money," Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy said.

Lemont police are urging residents to be on alert for the scam, which is referred to as "false personation."

If anyone receives a call requesting financial assistance from family or friends, they are urged to take a phone number for a return call and then use their own contact information to verify the identity of the caller.

If residents are unable to reach the person in question, they should call other friends or family members to confirm that the individual is really out of state or overseas and if they do need financial aid, police said.

For more information or to report a telephone scam, call the at 630-257-2229.