East Meadow man falls victim to $7,500 telephone scam, cops say

The caller claimed to be the grandson of the 86-year-old East Meadow man who answered the phone, saying he’d been arrested — and needed $7,500 for bail.

Now, Nassau County police said they’ve arrested a 23-year-old Bronx man, charging him with third-degree grand larceny in the case.

The suspect, identified as Jeremy E. McFadden, of Crotona Park East, faces arraignment Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said that, after claiming to be the victim’s grandson, McFadden gave the man a bank account number at the Bank of America, where he could deposit the money transfer.

Police said the victim did so, only to find out later that his grandson had never been arrested — and never made the call.

Police have warned residents about such scams in the past, advising anyone receiving such a call to check with relatives to verify unsolicited claims in which money is requested. Various scams have involved callers claiming to be overseas travelers stranded because of an arrest or victimized by a robbery or accident, or a friend or relative who’s been arrested in the United States — and in need of bail money.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”