Who could refuse to help a grandchild who is in trouble? No one.
That's the reason grandparents need to be aware of a scam involving telephone calls from "grandchildren" asking for money. The "grandparent scam" is back again because this fraud has been very successful over the years.
The fraud has several variations, but in the end, the hook is the same. A loved one is in trouble and embarrassed about it. Please send money to help and don't tell anyone else.
How it works
The scam starts with a phone call. The caller often is a young person who implores grandpa or grandma for help. The caller says it's "your grandson." Some seniors may be caught offguard and respond with a name of their grandson (is this Johnny, or Michael?), and the scam begins. The caller immediately assumes the grandson's identity and makes the pitch.
"I'm overseas or out of state and was arrested for drunken driving (or some other offense). Please wire my bail money, and don't tell my parents. I don't want them to know, that's why I called you." Too often, grandparents who are eager to help rush to the local store to wire the money. Only later do they learn the caller wasn't their grandson.
Some variations of this scam are: the caller saying he is their son or nephew and has been in an accident and needs money for bail, and to repair the other person's car and cover medical bills. The caller may also pretend to be a lawyer, judge or police officer, telling seniors that money is needed or their loved one will be in big trouble. Other recent variations include requests for money for tuition, textbooks or other "emergency expenses."
The scammers will ask that the money be sent via Western Union or Money Gram or occassionally a money order. The results are always the same though. Once the money is sent, it's likely gone forever.
Lessons To Learn
Never send money based on a request made over the phone. You don't really know who is on the line. Requests to send funds overseas or to Canada are strong indicators that it's a fraud.
These calls can be very frightening when you get one. To protect yourself from these phony phone calls:
* Don't fill in the blanks. If the caller says, "It's your granddaughter," respond with "Which one?" Most likely, the scammer will then hang up.
* Verify the caller. Always confirm your grandchild's identity by saying you will return the call at his or her home or on his cellphone (but do not ask the caller for the phone number). If you don't have your grandchildren's phone numbers, contact a trusted family member for them.
* Be mum on account numbers. Never provide your bank or credit card account numbers to any caller-regardless of the reason.
* Be suspicious of requests for money wires.
* Plan ahead - work out a strategy now before you receive one of these calls as to how you would handle it. Think of questions you can ask that only the true person would know like their birthdate. Perhaps come up with a "code word" that the family all agrees on.
* Don't be afraid to say no to the caller. Once you fall victim to this scam, most likely your phone number will be passed along to other scammers because you are an "easy target."
* If your "grandchild" calls requesting money, contact your local police department or state attorney general's office.
Please share this with your relatives and friends. Help protect them from becoming a victim.