Police in the state of Rhode Island have obtained an arrest warrant for a New Brunswick man who allegedly scammed a senior over the summer.
Derek Harley Lyons, 27, of Moncton, is believed to have swindled an 85-year-old resident out of $18,000 toward the end of July in a confidence scheme, a common way of defrauding a person or group after first gaining their trust.
According to the Pawtucket Police Department, Lyons allegedly called the victim and identified himself as an attorney who needed money to bond a relative of the victim out of jail.
“The scam involved instructions on how to provide the money to a courier that would respond to the victim’s address,” the police department said on Facebook.
“The victim, not being able to contact the aforementioned relative, believed the circumstances to be true.”
Police said the senior obtained the money and turned turned it over to the courier.
After a three-month investigation, they identified Lyons as the primary suspect. It’s believed he also acted as the courier who took possession of the money.
Pawtucket police are now actively trying to locate Lyons.
He is described as being six foot one and approximately 210 pounds. He has brown hair, blue eyes and an athletic, muscular build.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Pawtucket police Detective Austin Webb at 401-727-9100 ext. 761 or at awebb@pawtucketpolice.com