NORFOLK, Neb.– $5,000 in cash has been returned to a 92-year-old Norfolk resident after a phone scam incident.

Police say the elderly woman was falsely contacted that her son had been jailed following a car accident and money was needed for his release. Believing the story, the victim withdrew $5,000 in cash and shipped it via overnight express to an address in Miami, Florida.

However, a Norfolk Police officer took action to intervene. The officer worked with local and regional FedEx personnel to locate and stop the package right before it was set to be flown to Miami. 

Police found that the scammers later attempted to convince FedEx to send the package back to Miami, but the officer guaranteed that the package was sent back to the victim’s family.

The Norfolk Police Division encourages the community — especially seniors and their family members — to remain vigilant against common scams and to contact police immediately if they suspect fraudulent activity.