Elder Fraud Suspect Captured in Phone Scam that Targeted Elderly South Jerseyans

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GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A 51-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested Tuesday after attempting to collect cash from an elderly couple in what police say was an elaborate phone scam involving a fake federal agent.

The Galloway Township Police Department began investigating the incident after receiving a call around 4 p.m. from a concerned woman who reported that her elderly parents had withdrawn a large amount of money from their bank account. The caller said her parents were still on the phone with a scammer claiming to be a federal agent.

According to police, the scammer convinced the victims that multiple bank accounts had been fraudulently opened using their Social Security number. The victims were instructed to empty their account and hand over the cash to a representative who would deposit it into a so-called “secure account.”

Officers worked closely with the caller and the victims, setting up surveillance at their East Ridgewood Avenue residence. About an hour later, a vehicle arrived to collect what the scammer believed to be more than $60,000. Police apprehended the driver, identified as Dipen Patel of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, without incident.

“This case is another reminder of the ongoing elderly scams that occur on a daily basis throughout the country,” said Galloway Township Police Chief Richard D. Barber. “Working with our public, we were able to stop this crime and not just protect this victim, but potential future victims as well.”