New Bedford Police Charge Connecticut Man in Bail Scam

NEW BEDFORD — Charges have been filed against a Connecticut man after police say he duped an elderly man out of $9,500.

According to New Bedford Police, the victim reported that on February 8 at around 9 a.m., he received a phone call from a man indicating the victim’s granddaughter was in jail and needed $9,500 for bail. He reported that shortly after, a male and a female arrived at the residence and retrieved the money from the victim.

Police were made aware of the incident, and they say it was soon learned that a second attempt was made to take an additional $3,300 from the victim. New Bedford Police patrol officers stopped a suspect vehicle in the victim’s neighborhood.

The operator, Joel Eduardo Hernandez Quezda, 26, of Hartford, Connecticut was arrested for an active warrant for larceny out of Stoughton District Court and a warrant out of Connecticut for a similar offense, as well as possession of an open container of alcohol. Police say that as the investigation continued, Quezda was tied to the initial larceny and $1,100 was retrieved.

Upon appearing at Stoughton Court on Feb. 10, Quezda was released on personal recognizance.

New Bedford police say these scams are becoming more frequent, and they strongly advise that if someone receives a call or message claiming to be a family member or a friend desperate for money:

– Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is.

– Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.

– Do not provide money.

– Contact police.

These situations are known as “family emergency scams," police say, and you can learn more about how to deal with them here.