A 2013 phone call to the Seal Beach Police Department started what became an international manhunt for a “granny scammer” that ultimately led a Montreal man being extradited to California on July 9, 2014.
By the time a suspect arrived at LAX to face charges, the SBPD had worked with the New York Police Department, Canadian authorities and the U.S. Marshals.
According to the SBPD, the victims in this case lost a combined $100,000.
On Wednesday, 2014 at 10:51 p.m., Daniel Marcotte of Montreal, Canada, was extradited to the Los Angeles International Airport by Seal Beach Police Detective Mary Martinez and United States Marshals. Marcotte was arrested on Sept. 11, 2013. Ultimately, Marcotte waived extradition.
Marcotte, 30, has been accused of running a “grandparent scam.” According to the FBI’s website, the grandparent scam works like this: “You’re a grandparent, and you get a phone call or an e-mail from someone who identifies himself as your grandson. ‘I’ve been arrested in another country,’ he says, ‘and need money wired quickly to pay my bail. And oh by the way, don’t tell my mom or dad because they’ll only get upset!’”
Although called the “grandparent” or “granny” scam, sometimes the scammer claims to be a child or friend of the target, who is usually a senior. According to the FBI, variations on the scam include calls or emails from lawyers “representing” the grandchild or a law enforcement officer. The FBI website also warned potential targets that scammers can use the Internet to do research on the grandchild to make the impersonation more credible.
“Identity theft is an epidemic. The investigation of identity theft and fraud perpetrated against our senior population is a Seal Beach Police Department priority. Our senior residents are vulnerable to such scams and it is a community wide responsibility to protect them from victimization,” said Seal Beach Police Chief Joe Stilinovich.
In this particular case, on Feb. 18, 2013, an 86-year-old widow received a frightening call from someone claiming to be her grandson “Randy,” saying that he was in a Mexican jail and needed money sent to him to secure his release. The caller claiming to be the victim’s grandson asked the victim to send $15,000 in cash addressed to “Matthew Jones” to an address in New York City. The address was identified as a FedEx business office in a downtown New York Sheraton Hotel. On Feb. 19, 2013, the victim sent the cash to the address.
On Feb. 20, 2013, two days after the initial call, the same suspect called the victim and again asked for an additional $15,000 in cash be sent to “Matthew Jones” at the New York address. That day based on fearing for her grandson and trusting the caller, this trusting grandmother sent an additional $15,000 cash to the same address in New York City. A false Canadian driver’s license was used to pick up the packages from the New York Fed Ex business center.
Once the victim realized she’d been taken, she contacted the Seal Beach Police Department. SBPD detectives partnered with NYPD colleagues to pursue the case—and “Matthew Jones.” Authorities ultimately came to the conclusion that Marcotte was their suspect.
Marcotte reportedly changed his appearance and fled from his Montreal residence to avoid capture. Prior to his arrest, he was last seen driving a white, 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan.
Marcotte was known to live a lavish lifestyle and frequent nightclubs. He also claimed to be a successful celebrity chef. Marcotte was also known to take on various aliases and change his appearance to mask his identity. Marcotte traveled frequently between Canada and New York, and he has made numerous trips into the Manhattan area.
Authorities in Seal Beach sought the public’s assistance in locating Marcotte. Ultimately, he was apprehended in Canada.
Anyone with information about Marcotte was asked to call SBPD Detective Mary Martinez at 562-799-4100, extension 1110, or email: mmartinez@sealbeachca.gov.
According to the FBI, victims of grannyshould contact local law enforcement agencies as the amount of money involved in the individual scams generally isn’t enough to trigger a Federal investigation.
To avoid becoming a victim, the FBI advises targets to try contacting the “grandchild” or “friend” in question and “never wire money based on a request made over the phone or in an e-mail…especially overseas. Wiring money is like giving cash—once you send it, you can’t get it back.”
