FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Milford, CT) – The family of an elderly fraud victim is donating $20,000 in restitution the defendants in the case were ordered to pay to the victim in an effort to raise awareness about financial scams involving vulnerable populations.
In 2018, the Milford Police Department received a complaint from an 82-year-old Milford resident who reported that she was the victim of a telephone scam. The victim explained to officers that she received a telephone call and was led to believe that she won the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes. Over a six-day period, the victim withdrew approximately $83,000 from her bank and subsequently transferred the money into accounts controlled by the scammers.
Milford police Detective David Pecoraro was assigned the investigation and was able to identify the banks that received the victim’s money. Detective Pecoraro obtained a search and seizure warrant and was able to freeze and recover $25,000. Ultimately, three individuals from Florida with connections to the Congo were arrested by the Milford Police Department.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Howard Stein prosecuted the three defendants. While the cases were pending in the Ansonia/Milford Judicial District, $20,000 in restitution was collected on behalf of the victim. It was later determined that the victim had passed away. Out-of-state members of the victim’s family were notified of the recovered restitution. The daughter of the victim, acting as a family spokesperson, communicated to the Ansonia/Milford State’s Attorney’s Office that the family of the victim desired that the $20,000 be donated to the victim’s Milford-based church, The First United Church of Christ for their Steeple Restoration fund in honor of the victim, Marion Ahrens. The Ahrens family believed that the victim would have approved of this decision by her family.
The Ahrens family would like to express their sincere thanks to the Milford Police Department and Detective David Pecoraro as well to the Ansonia/Milford State Attorney’s Office and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Stein.
The Ahrens family believes it is important for seniors and other vulnerable citizens to be aware of scammers who would take advantage of them. They would urge people who receive unsolicited “too-good-to-be-true” news or calls from people who identify themselves as government officials calling with information which requires “IMMEDIATE” attention to proceed slowly and with caution. They would encourage people who receive such contacts, whether by phone or email, to consult with a trusted individual such as a family member, financial representative or their local police department before taking any action.