$16,000 recovered in scam investigation in Glens Falls

GLENS FALLS, NY — Police recovered $16,000 for a resident who fell victim to a phone scam on Tuesday.

A member of the public came to the Glens Falls Police Department at approximately 1 p.m. seeking the release of a family member they believed was being held in custody.

The individual explained they had received a phone call from an unknown male claiming their daughter had been involved in a motor vehicle accident while texting and driving and needed to be bailed out.

The responding officer quickly recognized several indicators of a scam and immediately commenced an investigation.

The victim reported that the caller instructed them to withdraw $16,000 from their bank account and advised them to tell bank employees the funds were intended for a home improvement project.

The caller then directed the victim to package the cash inside a box with packing materials and provide the package to an Uber driver who arrived at their residence.

The victim was further instructed to wait one hour before going to the courthouse to arrange for their daughter’s release.

Members of the Glens Falls Police Department were able to quickly identify and contact the Uber driver using a photograph of the vehicle’s license plate.

The driver, who was in the Clifton Park area traveling to the drop-off location, was cooperative and returned to the police station with the package.

The victim’s funds were successfully recovered.

The investigation for the parties responsible remains ongoing.