Troy, MI — A 78-year-old woman in Troy lost over $8,000 in a phone scam where a con artist posed as someone helping her jailed son, according to the Troy Police Department.
The woman reported the incident on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. She told officers she received a phone call that appeared to come from her son’s number. When she answered, a man claiming to be with her son said he had been in a car accident and was in jail.
The caller then provided her with a number for a supposed lawyer. When the woman called that number, she was told someone would come to her home to collect $8,400 in cash for her son’s bail.
Shortly after, a man arrived at her house, and the woman handed over the money in an envelope.
Later, she received another call asking for an additional $9,200. That’s when she realized she was being scammed and contacted Troy police.
This incident adds to a growing list of scams targeting residents across Metro Detroit. Just last month, a Shelby Township couple was defrauded of $50,000 in a separate scam, and authorities recently dismantled a group involved in sealcoating fraud in Oakland County.
Officials are warning the public to remain vigilant as reports of scam texts, calls, and emails continue to rise, including a recent DMV text scam affecting the area.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized by scammers is urged to contact local law enforcement immediately.
