JEROME — Family members of an elderly resident were first made aware that his finances were in disarray when they received a notice that his truck was going to be repossessed.
The truck was paid off, and the title was in the possession of his son. Why would a collections agency be coming for the truck?
The 83-year-old Jerome resident had fallen prey to a scam.
The story the scammer told him was that he had won a cash prize sweepstakes. Millions of dollars would be his, but first he had to pay the taxes on the prize up front.
The man, who is on fixed-income of Social Security, uses a walker to get around, and uses an oxygen tank, went around to at least six same-day lenders in Jerome and Twin Falls, trying to scrape together enough money to pay the “taxes” on his prize. He even obtained a lost title from the DMV to use his car as collateral for a $1,000 loan that would end up costing him $2,800 to pay back.
Convinced that he was about to finally strike it big, the 83-year-old man, who uses a walker to get around and is on oxygen, was able to obtain multiple quick loans from at least six same-day lenders in the Magic Valley.
His daughter-in-law said the scammer developed a relationship with him, called regularly and virtually befriended him. He even gave the man the names of nearby fast-money lenders for him. He was, after all, so very close to…
