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An 84-year-old Eastlake man got back more than $5,000 he sent to someone who scammed him, thanks to an alert UPS employee, police said.

Eastlake Police Detective Ted Kroczak said the scam started with a phone call to the elderly man.

“They’re actually identifying themselves as federal agents,” Kroczak said.

Kroczak said the convincing scammer told the man he was to get more than $500,000, but first he had to pay the 1% tax on it: $5,250 in cash.

The Idaho Supreme Court recently affirmed the Idaho Industrial Commission’s determination that Michael Vawter, a former delivery driver for United Parcel Service (UPS), was entitled to worker’s compensation benefits when he injured his back while tying his boots at work. Based on this case, it may be difficult for an employer to argue that an injury that occurred on the employer’s premises did not arise out of the employee’s employment.

Mr. Vawter worked as a delivery driver for UPS in Cascade. After clocking in on the morning of December 18, 2009, he sat down and bent over to tie his boot laces. While bending over he felt a pop and pain in his lower back. He sought medical treatment and eventually underwent two back surgeries.

Mr. Vawter filed a worker’s compensation complaint with the Idaho Industrial Commission alleging he suffered a low back injury due to an accident that arose out of and in the course of his employment with UPS. UPS denied the claim. The parties agreed that the injury occurred during the course of Mr. Vawter’s employment. However, there was a dispute as to whether the injury arose out of Mr. Vawter’s employment with UPS.

United Parcel Service Inc. Chairman and CEO Scott Davis took a 15 percent cut to his total compensation in 2013, the same year the package shipping and logistics giant’s profit plunged nearly 82 percent.

• Chief Financial Officer Kurt Kuehn’s total comp shrunk about 20 percent to $2.75 million.
• Chief Operating Officer David Abney’s total comp dropped 24 percent to $4.08 million.