Con artists target the elderly
BUFFALO -- Well-meaning senior citizens who think they are helping a grandchild in distress are becoming victims of another wave of the so-called "Grandparent Scam," warns the Better Business Bureau. This scam alert, first issued in the Fall of 2008, has targeted grandparents in more than a dozen states and Canadian provinces, stolen as much as $19,000 from one victim and stuck another Upstate New York victim this week that also lost thousands.
"The grandparent scam preys on the love of a grandparent for their grandchildren and has proven to be an extremely lucrative con for scammers," said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. "We hope every grandparent will hear about this warning because this is an easy scam to avoid as long as you don't let your emotions get the best of you."
Typically, the grandparent receives a frantic phone call from whom they are led to believe is their grandchild. A scammer, posing as their grandchild, explains that he or she has gotten into trouble-often in Canada-and needs their help. The "grandchild" might claim he or she caused a car accident or was arrested for drug possession. With the new wave of calls, victims are also contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer or lawyer representing the grandchild in court.
The "grandchild" pleads to the grandparents to not tell his or her parents and asks that they wire thousands of dollars for reasons including posting bail, repairing the grandchild's car, covering lawyer's fees or even paying hospital bills for a person the grandchild injured in a car accident. "Our concern is even greater for families residing in Upstate New York border communities," Polino added. "It's not unusual for older teens or young adult grandchildren to travel across the Canadian border here, so the plausibility factors rise even higher for grandparents with families living in our area regardless of where they may be at this time of year."
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild in distress, check it out. The Better Business Bureau advises that you don't disclose any information before you have confirmed it really is your grandchild. If a caller says "It's me, grandma!" don't respond with a name but instead let the caller explain who he or she is. One easy way to confirm their identity is to ask a simple question that your grandchild would know such as what school he or she goes to or their middle name.
If you have fallen victim to the scam, report the incident immediately. The BBB recommends that you contact local police and the New York Attorneys General office. If there is a request to wire money to Canada, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre has established the PhoneBusters hotline and Web site to report such fraud. Reports can be filed easily online through the PhoneBusters site
or by phone, toll free at, 1-888-495-8501.
