Elderly Gresham man loses $40,000 in missed jury duty scam

A 79-year-old resident of East Gresham withdrew $40,000 in cash from two different banks after being told he had missed a jury duty deadline. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the man subsequently deposited the funds into a Bitcoin machine located in southeast Portland.

Tarisa, the victim's daughter, spoke to reporters about the incident that occurred on Sept. 23. She stated that her father texted her earlier that day saying he was occupied and could not be reached. By evening, she noticed his absence from his home was unusual and drove to check on him. Upon her arrival, he was not there. She contacted the Sheriff's Office, and when he returned, bank statements showed the large withdrawals.

According to Tarisa, the scammers claimed a fee was required to clear the missed jury duty obligation. She noted that the fraudsters kept her father on the phone for several hours. She described the experience as a heavy burden for the family, stating that the effects of the incident extend beyond the financial loss. "The effects of this go far beyond the money. It has created so much stress," she said.

Tarisa expressed concern about the extent of the scammer's access to her father's information. She questioned what else the individuals might have taken. The Sheriff's Office has received additional potential evidence submitted by Tarisa via email. A spokesperson for the agency indicated that the case remains open but that investigators currently have no leads.

The daughter emphasized the need for elderly individuals to have a support network when dealing with financial matters over the phone. She advised that it is important to have someone else to talk to when older adults may be unaware of common scam tactics. "When people are older and maybe unaware of these scams, it is important, it is really important to have someone else that you can turn to and talk to," she said.

The 79-year-old man has not recovered any of the $40,000. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office told Tarisa that the money is likely gone. The case continues to be investigated by the agency, which is waiting for further developments.