Man Accused of Conning Elderly Over Telephone
Prosecutors have charged a Los Angeles man for allegedly bilking at least 22 senior citizens out of nearly $12,000 by telephoning them and impersonating a stranded relative, police said. David Maurice Smith, 31, was arraigned Tuesday on 15 felony counts, including grand theft and burglary.
Police said the victims range from 64 to 90 and live in and near Hollywood.
Smith allegedly would call victims and ask, “Do you know who this is?” When the victim offered a guess, he would impersonate that person, said Los Angeles Police Detective Bob Ramos. Smith would tell them he needed money because his wallet had been stolen and he was stranded at an airport, Ramos said.
Police said they don’t know how Smith gathered information about his victims, such as their nicknames and birthplaces.
Burglary charges were filed because Smith allegedly entered some of the homes to collect the money. The victims gave between $70 and $5,190, Ramos said.
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