A man posing as Maverick’s surfer Grant Washburn scammed a San Mateo County Historical Museum employee out of hundreds of dollars last year, according to court documents.
On Dec. 12, a day before Washburn was scheduled to attend events at the museum, a man identifying himself as the surfer called the museum claiming to be stuck in Los Angeles without money. He told a museum employee that his wallet was stolen and he needed nearly $500 to purchase a ticket to the Bay Area and another $200 to purchase food and other small items, according to a search warrant filed by the Redwood City Police Department.
The woman wired the money to the man through a third party. However, suspicions were raised when he called back later requesting additional money, said Mitch Postel, executive director of the San Mateo County Historical Association.
Postel wished to keep the employee’s named private and avoided answering questions about who paid the money — the employee or the association.
"When he asked for her to wire him some more money, we were getting really suspicious,” Postel said.
Postel directed someone to call Washburn at home. When he picked up, Postel had his answer. Washburn said he was home in San Francisco and was not aware of who was placing the phone call, Postel said.
Washburn was scheduled to speak at that weekend’s kickoff of a Maverick’s surf exhibit. Washburn is a well-known Maverick’s surfer and authored a book and produced a documentary about the legendary surf spot off the San Mateo County coast.
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Washburn could not be reach for comment.
Both Postel and Redwood City police Sgt. Steve Blanc point to December’s extensive media coverage of the event as ways the impostor knew to call the museum that day.
Blanc said the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
Anyone with information about this case should call the Redwood City Police Department at 780-7100.
Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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