A Milwaukee man, Maximiliano Mendez, has been accused of taking nearly $20,000 from an elderly Brookfield woman in a bail and legal fee scam, according to Fox6 News Digital. The 27-year-old now faces two counts of money laundering and one count of attempted money laundering. He is currently held in Waukesha County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
The case began when an 87-year-old woman’s son reported to police that his mother had been targeted by a telephone scam. According to Fox6 News, the criminal complaint details how the woman received multiple calls from someone posing as her grandson, claiming he needed money for bail and legal fees.
The scammer convinced her to withdraw $9,500 from her bank account, which was later collected by someone at her home. A few days later, the scammer contacted her again, requesting another $9,975, which was also picked up by the same individual.
The scammer made a third attempt for $9,986, but this time, the son contacted police before any money was handed over.
Hey Business Owners! Learn Why You Should Advertise With The Lake Country Tribune
When police arrived at the victim’s home, they recorded several phone calls from the scammers. The victim was instructed to tell the scammer that the money was ready, and when someone arrived to collect it, police arrested Mendez. The victim identified Mendez as the same person who had previously collected the money.
Mendez denied any involvement in the scheme, claiming he worked for a painting company and was merely providing quotes. However, he was unable to provide any contact information for the supposed company. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to unravel the details of this case.
NEXT: Lincoln Hills Consent Decree at Middle of Statehouse Fight
