'Fake' grandkids charged after conning seniors
Published: 6 Aug 12 14:18 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/42450/20120806/
Two men were formally charged on Monday after conning, or attempting to con, over 100 elderly people in Sweden by pretending to be their grandchildren and asking for money.
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The scam earned the two fraudsters over a million kronor in cash ($148,170) and at least 215,000 kronor worth of jewellery.
The crimes were committed within a four month period, with the majority of victims being women aged over 80, the oldest being a woman born in 1912 who was tricked out of 50,000 kronor.
The case has been labelled as aggravated fraud, with the trial beginning on August 20th at the Hudiksvall District Court in eastern Sweden.
The frauds took place throughout northern and eastern Sweden, with police completing a though investigation.
"It was an extensive investigation that spanned 31 cities," explained Lars Berglund of the Gävleborg police to the TT news agency.
The con men preyed on the weak points of the elderly victims, carefully researching them before making their pleas, often claiming that the money would go towards a new car. If the money they received was not considered satisfactory, the pair asked for watches or jewellery.
Often, it wasn't until the victims called to ask for their money back that they realized they had been conned.
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I just wonder how loving, caring and compassionate our current generation will be when they become grand parents.
On a side note, it's a truly sad story. If I may bring into discussion the fact that this story only reflects a sad reality that elderly people here are so lonely they become prey to merciless predators like these lot.
I expect you feel rather silly now.
This has been happening to him/her A LOT lately.
That's not going to be very painful in Sweden...