3 men plead guilty to defrauding seniors out of more than $350,000 in 'Grandparent Scam'

NEWS 8 GOOD ADVICE AND TONIGHT THE 8 ON YOUR SIDE TEAM HAS A FEW MORE TIPS TO SPOT THIS GAME, YOU KNOW, IF ALL THE SCAMS THAT I’VE TOLD YOU ABOUT OVER THE YEARS NONE GET ME MORE UPSET THAN ON THE GRANDPARENTS SCAM BECAUSE THIS SCAM TARGETS SENIORS AND IT TRIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGEF O THEIR LOVE FOR THEIR OWN FAMILY. SO HERE ARE A FEW TIPS FOR SEEING USED TO AIDVO THIS SCAM. FIRST OF ALL ADJUST THE PRIVACY SETTINGS ON ANY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. SO ONLY THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW CAN ACCESS YOUR POSTS AND PHOTOS. HERE’S WHY SCAMMERS SKIM THROUGH THOSE UNPROTECTED ACCOUNTS TO GATHER NAMES AND PICTURES AND IN FORMATION ON YOUR FAMILY TO MAKE TIRHE SCAM CALL MORE BELIEVABLE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE WHAT HAPPENED JUST WITH JEREMY AND CLYDE THERE EVEN THOUGH THE AMSC TELL YOU NOT TO DO THIS. YOU SHOULD HANG UP THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY. CALL THE GRANDCHDIL OR ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE DON’ BTELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE ON CALLER ID BECAUSE SCAMMERS CAN EASILY SPOOF PHONE NUMBERS TO MAKE IT APPEAR THEIR CALL IS MAYBE COMING FROM A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SOME OTHER KIND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND FINALLY DON’T PANIC. I KNOW THAT’S EASIER SAID THAN DONE FOLKS, BUT THE GOAL OF THIS GAME. IS TOET G THE VICTIM SO UPSET THAT THEY’RE DISTRACTED FMRO RECOGNIZING THE SCAM ITSELF. THESE ARE JT USA FEW OF THE MOST IMPORTANT. TIPS. I’VE GOT SOME MORE DO’S

Three men pleaded guilty to defrauding 14 Rhode Island seniors out of more than $350,000 in what authorities described Tuesday as a "Grandparent Scam.""Few things are more frightening than thinking a family member is in trouble," U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha said in a news release. "These defendants exploited that fear to steal from loving grandparents and line their own pockets."Bryan Valdez-Espinosa, 22, Diego A. Alarcon, 22, and Jason Hatcher, 40, appeared before a federal judge in Providence and admitted to participating in the scam, Cunha said.Video above: Tips for avoiding the grandparent scamKara Hoopis Manosh, an attorney for Hatcher, and Kevin Fitzgerald, attorney representing Valdez-Espinosa, declined comment in separate emails to CNN.Alarcon's attorney, Melissa Larsen, told CNN her client "has accepted full responsibility for his role in this scheme, one of many which has victimized our venerable elder population.""He sincerely regrets his criminal acts and I'm confident he will live a law abiding life after serving what will likely be a lengthy sentence in a federal detention facility," Larsen said in a written statement.'Fake bail payments'The victims, whose ages ranged from 79 to 94, were contacted by people who impersonated family members or attorneys, according to the release from the U.S. Attorney's office.The callers "falsely told the victims that a loved one, generally a grandchild, had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, and needed cash bail." The victims were then directed by the callers to gather cash to give to a courier who would come to their home to retrieve it for "fake bail payments," the release said.Video above: Store owner helps man avoid losing $12,000 to grandparent scamThe scammers defrauded the victims out of between $9,500 and $85,000, the release said.In one case, a family member intervened, which lead police to Valdez-Espinosa, who was acting as a courier, the release said.Valdez-Espinosa and Alarcon — both from Union City, New Jersey — along with Hatcher admitted that they traveled to New England to participate in the scam in June 2021, according to the prosecutors.Hatcher, of New York City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, while Alarcon and Valdez Espinosa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.The trio is slated to be sentenced on Oct. 11 after a federal judge determines their prison term. Video above: Scammers continue to target grandparents

Three men pleaded guilty to defrauding 14 Rhode Island seniors out of more than $350,000 in what authorities described Tuesday as a "Grandparent Scam."

"Few things are more frightening than thinking a family member is in trouble," U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha said in a . "These defendants exploited that fear to steal from loving grandparents and line their own pockets."

Bryan Valdez-Espinosa, 22, Diego A. Alarcon, 22, and Jason Hatcher, 40, appeared before a federal judge in Providence and admitted to participating in the scam, Cunha said.

Video above: Tips for avoiding the grandparent scam

Kara Hoopis Manosh, an attorney for Hatcher, and Kevin Fitzgerald, attorney representing Valdez-Espinosa, declined comment in separate emails to CNN.

Alarcon's attorney, Melissa Larsen, told CNN her client "has accepted full responsibility for his role in this scheme, one of many which has victimized our venerable elder population."

"He sincerely regrets his criminal acts and I'm confident he will live a law abiding life after serving what will likely be a lengthy sentence in a federal detention facility," Larsen said in a written statement.

'Fake bail payments'

The victims, whose ages ranged from 79 to 94, were contacted by people who impersonated family members or attorneys, according to the release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

The callers "falsely told the victims that a loved one, generally a grandchild, had been arrested after being involved in a motor vehicle accident, and needed cash bail." The victims were then directed by the callers to gather cash to give to a courier who would come to their home to retrieve it for "fake bail payments," the release said.

Video above: Store owner helps man avoid losing $12,000 to grandparent scam

The scammers defrauded the victims out of between $9,500 and $85,000, the release said.

In one case, a family member intervened, which lead police to Valdez-Espinosa, who was acting as a courier, the release said.

Valdez-Espinosa and Alarcon — both from Union City, New Jersey — along with Hatcher admitted that they traveled to New England to participate in the scam in June 2021, according to the prosecutors.

Hatcher, of New York City, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, while Alarcon and Valdez Espinosa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The trio is slated to be sentenced on Oct. 11 after a federal judge determines their prison term.

Video above: Scammers continue to target grandparents