Scammers Swindle 84-Year-Old East Greenwich Man Out of $5,500: Cops

EAST GREENWICH, RI — Scammers swindled an 84-year-old East Greenwich man out of $5,500 with false promises of money for life and a free car, police said.

The man told an officer he received a notice from "Publishing Clearing House" informing him he won money for life and a car," an East Greenwich Police Department report said.

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The man called the number on the notice and the "person who answered informed him they would needmoney to start the process of getting him his money," according to the report. "They explained gift cards worked best."

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The man had "on and off again communication with 'Publishing Clearing House'" between Jan. 6 and Jan. 24, the report said, during which time he withdrew $1,500 from his savings account, another $1,500 from his checking account, put $1,000 on his credit card, pawned $1,000 in rings and took out a $500 personal loan.

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"All this money was then used to purchase gift cards from various stores where (the man) would scratch off the serial numbers and provide them to 'Publishing Clearing House,'" the report said.

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On Jan. 23, the man went to the bank to withdraw more money but was "informed he was likely being scammed," according to the report. The bank then contacted daughter, and the two responded to EGPD to file a report."

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