Suspected con man nabbed before picking up $16,000 from Mineral Bluff couple
Scam artists preying on Fannin County residents Friday, September 10, struck out as one suspect went to jail, another escaped by only seconds and another never got past the phone call.
Altogether, citizens held on to $49,500 as Fannin County sheriff’s deputies handled all three situations almost at once.
According to Investigations Captain Justin Turner of the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, the first scam unfolded when a couple in Mineral Bluff received a phone call.
The caller identified herself as their granddaughter, but the call was almost immediately transferred to an alleged attorney. That person told the couple the granddaughter had been pulled over by law enforcement and arrested on drug and firearm charges.
The couple was told $14,000 was needed to bond her out by 5 p.m. At first, the so-called attorney said a bonding company could be used, but then told the couple a much quicker way would be for him to send a courier.
When the couple agreed, they were told the courier would arrive in a matter of minutes.
The couple felt something was wrong and called the sheriff’s office.
Deputy Brad Mathis was first to arrive on the scene.
Within a minute, Dawlin Alberto De La Cruz, 28, was walking up the couple’s driveway.
When questioned, he said his car had suffered mechanical difficulties and he just needed to use a phone.
Turner said De La Cruz Detention Center where it was determined there was nothing wrong with the car.
Additionally, investigators determined De La Cruz was wanted in New Jersey on warrants alleging credit card fraud.
De La Cruz was arrested and booked on a single felony charge of criminal attempt.
As Mathis was responding to the Mineral Bluff address, the sheriff’s office received a call from Walton County authorities giving them an address in Epworth that could be a potential target for a similar scam.
Investigators were still on the scene in Mineral Bluff as Deputy Jessie Godsey was dispatched to the residence in Epworth.
Turner said when Godsey walked up to the door he was met by the victim and handed an envelope with $16,000, thinking he was the courier coming for the money.
That couple had received a similar phone call also referencing a grandchild in need of immediate cash. The couple was actually on the phone with the alleged attorney and had been told to expect the courier within a minute when Godsey arrived.
Godsey remembered seeing a car parked on the side of the road on his way to the residence.
Godsey was “literally seconds ahead” of the scam courier, Turner said.
As investigators were wrapping up these situations, another potential victim has called the sheriff’s office to report receiving a similar phone call.
That call came from the Epworth area, the victim reporting having been asked for $19,500. The victim was warned of the scam taking place elsewhere and did not lose any money.
Turner said this is a new twist on a scam that has been around before. In those instances, the targets were told to send money electronically.
Children and grandchildren are used as the bait to draw money out of victims, most often senior citizens.
Turner urged citizens not to fall prey to this scam. “No authority or attorney’s office would contact someone in this manner to request money,” he said.
He urged anyone contact this manner to contact 911 or the sheriff’s office immediately at 706-632-2044.