Skeptical residents thwart scams

YOUNGSTOWN -- A 65-year-old Bears Den man was told he was the recipient of a $2,500 government grant and all he needed to do was supply his bank and account number to the person who called him Monday evening.
The man refused, saying he was concerned about scams. The caller then offered to meet him at the bank or come to his home and upped the grant amount to $25,000. The man refused, suspecting a scam.
He said the accented male voice on the phone gave up and said the information about the grant would be mailed.
A 78-year-old Hunter Avenue woman, meanwhile, received a call Monday afternoon telling her that she won $2 million and it would be delivered by a Brink's truck Jan. 30.
The male caller offered to send a cab to her address so she could go to her bank to withdraw $2,500 -- needed to confirm her winnings. She was then supposed to send the money to the caller by Western Union. She hung up.