Beware the ‘Grandparents Scam’
(Cover Photo, Image credit: FilthFinder / Twitter)
A troubling scam targeting U.S. seniors that’s been around for a while is resurfacing across the country. Officials are investigating multiple thefts from senior citizens who have been scammed into giving away thousands of dollars after being convinced their grandchildren needed money to be bailed out of jail.
Commonly known as the “Grandparent Scam,” the cases being reported across the country are currently on the rise. In many cases, the suspects call a senior citizen and claim to be a lawyer or one of their grandchildren who have been involved in a car crash or some other legal trouble and were arrested. The person on the phone provides the victim with a phone number for an attorney and asks the victim to contact them.
The person posing as a lawyer convinces the victims that their respective grandchildren need a large sum of money – all in cash – to be bailed out of jail. Once the victims went to the bank to withdraw the funds, the suspect or a co-conspirator physically went to the victims’ homes to pick up the money.
In a variation on this scam, grandparents receive a call from one of their “grandchildren.” The grandchild’s voice may not sound right, but the grandchild explains this is due to COVID-19 or some other illness such as strep throat.
The grandchild explains he or she is in legal trouble and needs some money to get bailed out of jail. When the grandparent agrees to provide funds, the grandchild also mentions there is a “gag order” in this case, and the grandparent shouldn’t discuss this with anyone.
Yesterday, the Maryland State Police reported on two recent cases where scammers stole $9,200 and $15,000, respectively from their victims. In both cases, the suspect pretending to be the lawyer called the victims back and told them that they needed more money to help their grandchild out of their legal troubles.
Police went on to warn citizens that law enforcement and/or judicial personnel will never come to your house to collect bail money.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are several steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:
- Resist the urge to act immediately – no matter how dramatic the story is.
- Verify the caller’s identity. Ask questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer. Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine. Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.
- Don’t send cash, gift cards, or money transfers – once the scammer gets the money, it’s gone!
Here are some tips to protect yourself from scams in general:
- Do not give out your personal information to someone you do not know.
- Store personal information in a safe place.
- Do not carry your social security card in your wallet.
- Collect mail every day and put a hold on it during extended travel.
- Use security features on your smartphone and computer.
- Use complex passwords.
- Do not use gift cards to pay the IRS or Social Security, tech support, a family member in trouble, ransom or to avoid arrest or deportation or to prevent your utilities from being turned off.
- Trust your instincts. If you think it might be a scam, it probably is one.
If you or a family member has been contacted by one of these grandparent scammers, make sure to report it to your local FBI office. If you live in Oregon, the number is (503) 224-4181. You can also report such scams at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
(Sources: FBI and Maryland State Police)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
