(La Porte County, IN) - A La Porte County woman was phone scammed out of $5,000.

According to the sheriff’s office, the 70 year old woman was contacted by a man claiming he was with an identity theft agency in Washington D.C. 

He also told the woman that her social security number was stolen and used to make purchases nationwide and overseas.

Police said the man also claimed he was working to solve the case but needed money to further the investigation.  As instructed, she mailed three to four money orders to an address in California over about a one month period.

The woman, who lives near Stillwell, called police last night when she discovered it was a scam.