Federal authorities have uncovered a widespread grandparent scam operation. Authorities say a man targeted several victims and used ride-sharing apps to steal thousands of dollars. Fox Chapel police helped in a case that could have been a lot worse.
“It’s horrible. It’s terrible. I have parents who are in their mid-80s,” Eric Lingren said.
A Cleveland man has been indicted in Pittsburgh for his role in a multi-state grandparent scam targeting elderly victims.
Authorities said Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, originally from the Dominican Republic, was part of a crime ring operating in Pennsylvania and Ohio that scammed elderly people by pretending their grandchildren were in trouble and needed bail money.
Victims were told to hand over cash, which was then transported by Uber and Lyft drivers who were unaware of the scam and were told they were delivering legal documents.
“They don’t know what they are doing. They just think they are picking up a ride taking them somewhere and he’s scamming everyone around him,” Joe Stipetich said.
Surveillance photos allegedly show Rodriguez meeting these drivers and picking up the money at multiple Sheetz locations in the Cleveland area. There is also footage of him inside the stores. He is accused of wiring large amounts of money to the Dominican Republic within hours of each pickup and then funneling funds into personal and business bank accounts.
“I think it’s a shame and I think people need to be more diligent on who they are dealing with and where their money is going to,” Stipetich said.
Between October 2024 and this past January, cases were reported in Grove City, Scott Township, Fox Chapel, Hermitage and Findlay Township. The victims were scammed out of more than $50,000.
The Fox Chapel victim lost $6,000 but almost got scammed again for $19,0000 more. Investigators said the victim’s wife realized it was a scam, and called police, who stepped in and stopped the Lyft driver before it was too late.
“For someone to find a way to cheat senior citizens, you shouldn’t cheat anyone but to pick on the elderly doesn’t seem right,” Lingren said.
Authorities say Rodriguez had accomplices. He faces five federal counts of receiving stolen money across state lines. Investigators believe more victims may exist across several states.
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