PARK RIDGE, N.J.—An Emily Drive woman, 81, called police July 8 after she was harassed over the phone by someone trying to extort money from her in a scheme that would have depended on her believing she was liable for a fraudulent car rental that supposedly had been involved in a violent crime.
According to the police report, the woman was approached by a caller saying her identification was used in a car rental that stemmed from “16 credit cards being opened in your name” and that the car, a Toyota Corolla, was found with drugs and blood inside.
The crook said a case number was generated in the matter and that unless she forwarded money to protect her information she could be held liable for related crimes.
She was given an “investigator’s” name and phone number. Calls to the number returned a busy signal.
The woman turned to police, who told her this was a typical intimidation scam. She had not given personally identifying information to the scammers. She wanted the matter on record.