A Miami man has been arrested in Maine for attempting to dupe an elderly woman out of thousands of dollars through a scheme known as the “grandparent scam,” according to authorities. The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Julius Bighoro, reportedly flew from Florida to New England with the intent to commit theft by deceiving his victim into believing she was assisting her grandson out of a legal predicament.
Local10 reported that Bighoro landed in Boston, then rented a car to travel north to Standish, Maine. He is accused of convincing the targeted woman that her grandson was arrested and needed $9,500 for an attorney. Following the transaction with the Maine resident, deputies took Bighoro into custody in Standish.
The “grandparent scam” is a nefarious tactic where scammers prey on older individuals by posing as a family member or a trusted authority figure, often concocting a crisis that requires immediate financial support. In this case, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office informed Fox23 Maine that the con artist claimed the victim’s grandson was in the custody of Scarborough police…