'I'm in Mexico and My Nose is Broken, Grandma': Swindler Tells Knollwood Apts Resident

A Knollwood Apartments employee prevented one of the senior facility’s residents from being swindled out of $2,900 from a Barbados man claiming to be her grandson.

The resident wanted to take a cab on Aug. 14 to wire money to her grandson, but the employee called police after hearing the resident’s story.

The resident had received a phone call from a man who said that he was her grandson and that he had been involved in a car crash in Mexico and needed money.

When the resident told the man he didn’t sound like her grandson Greg, he replied, “I was in a car accident and my nose is broken, grandma. That is why I don’t sound like myself.”

The resident still had doubts but was prepared to wire $2,900 to a Barbados address the man on the phone provided.

On its website, the St. Louis Park police department offers tips on how to avoid scams and swindles.