04/13/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/13/2021 22:24
When it comes to scammers, nothing is sacred - including the bond between grandparent and grandchild. Lately, grandparent scammers have gotten bolder: they might even come to your door to collect money, supposedly for your grandchild in distress.
These kinds of scams still start with a call from someone pretending to be your grandchild. They might speak softly or make an excuse for why they sound different. They'll say they're in trouble, need bail, or need money for some reason. The 'grandkid' will also beg you to keep this a secret - maybe they're 'under a gag order,' or they don't want their parents to know. Sometimes, they might put another scammer on the line who pretends to be a lawyer needing money to represent the grandchild in court.
But, instead of asking you to buy gift cards or wire money (both signs of a scam), the scammer tells you someone will come to your door to pick up cash. Once you hand it over, your money is gone. But you might get more calls to send money by wire transfer or through the mail.
To avoid these scams and protect your personal information:
If you lost money to this kind of scam, it was a crime, so file a report with local law enforcement. And if you get any kind of scam call, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Wow ! So sad.
Have a family password and give it to the kids and grandkids. If you get one of these calls for 'help,' ask the caller for the family password. Then see how fast they hang up.
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