Metro

Phone scammer tricks Long Island grandfather into sending $10K

A Long Island senior was duped into mailing $10,000 tšŸ”„o a phone scammer in Missouri –– but the ca✱sh was intercepted by cops and postal officials before it reached the fraudster, according to police.

The St. Louis-based swindler called the 79-year-old victim April 8 claiming the man’s grandson was arrested after a car accident and needed to pay bail, according to Suffolk County police.

The victim, who lives in St. James, sent $9,500 in an envelope the same day –– and then calš”led his grandson, who cautioned him that it was a scam, cops said.

Detectives contacted the United States Postal Inspection Service, which reached out to officialsšŸŽ š“€in St. Louis.

Inspectors were able to find the package before it was delivered to the trickster, an✤d handed the money over to cops in Suffolk, who returned it to the victim.

It is uncź§’lear if any arrest has been made in tšŸŒžhe case.