WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Westfield Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying a suspect involved in a elder fraud scheme. Westfield residents celebrate Trump’s inauguration On Friday, an elderly couple received a call from a "lawyer" stating that a family member had been arrested and needed to pay $10,000 cash for his bail. The couple was told to withdraw the money from their bank and were told to contact the "lawyer" once this was done. The couple took out the money and called the "lawyer" who then told them to put it in an envelope inside of a sealed box. A courier was sent to retrieve the money from the couple, who handed over the box to him. The elderly couple later learned that their family member was never arrested and they reported this incident to the Westfield Police Department. It was learned that the courier was a driver for a ride-share company and that he wasn't involved in the scheme. The ride-share driver said the box was delivered to a man in the Worcester Fair Shopping Plaza. A camera inside the driver's vehicle was able to capture pictures of the man. He is described as being short, heavy-set, and did not speak English. Westfield Police DepartmentWestfield Police DepartmentWestfield Police Department The Westfield Police Department is seeking the publics help in identifying this man. If you known who he is, contact Det. Williams at 413-642-9384 or [email protected]. Elder Fraud The FBI states that each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to some type of financial fraud or confidence scheme. Schemers will gain their targets’ trust and may communicate with them online, over the phone, and/or through the mail. Seniors are often targets as they tend to be trusting and polite and usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit, which make them attractive to schemers. Ways to protect yourself Recognize scheme attempts and end all communication with the perpetrator. Create a shared verbal family password or phrase that only you and your loved ones know. Search online for the contact information (name, email, phone number, addresses) and the proposed offer. Other people have likely posted information online about individuals and businesses trying to run schemes. Resist the pressure to act quickly. Schemers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action. Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one. Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door services offers. Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, gold or other precious metals, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses. Make sure all computer anti-virus and security software and malware protections are up to date. Use reputable anti-virus software and firewalls. Disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen. Pop-ups are regularly used by perpetrators to spread malicious software. Enable pop-up blockers to avoid accidentally clicking on a pop-up. Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know, and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you. Take precautions to protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts, and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity. How to report If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of elder fraud, file a complaint at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. When reporting a scheme, include as many of the following details as possible: Names of the scammer and/or company Dates of contact Methods of communication Phone numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, and websites used by the perpetrator Methods of payment Where you sent funds, including wire transfers and prepaid cards (provide financial institution names, account names, and account numbers) Descriptions of your interactions with the scammer and the instructions you were given You should try to keep original documentation, emails, faxes, and logs of communications. Local News Headlines Dog stranded on beaver dam rescued in Longmeadow Governor Healey announces $2.5B for higher education in Massachusetts Victim identified in deadly Springfield shooting on Oakland Street Westfield Police searching for suspect involved in elder fraud scheme WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.