Reading Man Arrested in $12,000 Grandson Scam from 2022
WARRINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — A Reading man has been arrested for scamming a local resident out of $12,000 in a 2022 case known as the “grandson scam,” Warrington Township police said.
Engherber Perez-Jimenez, 26, allegedly called the victim pretending to be a hospital employee from Massachusetts General Hospital. He claimed the victim’s grandson had been in a serious car crash and urgently needed cash for legal expenses.
According to police, Perez-Jimenez traveled in person to collect the money and left behind a fake receipt. The victim later contacted the hospital and discovered there had been no such accident.
Following a lengthy investigation, police identified Perez-Jimenez as the suspect and issued an arrest warrant in May 2025. He turned himself in on May 21 and is now facing multiple charges, including identity theft. He is being held on $100,000 bail.
Authorities are reminding the public that no real agency will demand cash or gift cards for emergency situations. Anyone receiving suspicious requests should contact law enforcement immediately.
