It's one of the oldest scams around, and every year it costs people thousands of dollars.
It's known as the "grandparent scam" and Attorney General Linda Kelly is warning residents to watch out for this and other scams this Holiday season. “We see more of it this time of year,” said Kelly. “The holidays are here, and the scammers think that grandparents will be in the right frame of mind to send money to a ‘grandchild’ who is in trouble.”
There are many versions of the scam, but in most cases, it usually involves a call from a person pretending to be the resident's grandchild. The caller acts as though they are in trouble in another country and in urgent need of cash.
A lot of times, the caller will tell the victim they need the money wired or put on a pre-paid cash card. They will also plead with the victim "not to tell mom and dad about this." Kelly says, sometimes the caller will have a partner who pretends to be a law officer, attorney or hospital worker, to fool you into thinking the call is real.
The best thing to do is call and verify everything through another family member. Kelly says, the most important thing is never send money by wire or pre-paid cash card. Money that is sent this way can never be recovered.
“We have a lot of seniors in Pennsylvania, and the scammers out there have targeted their life savings,” says Kelly. “All of us can do something to help people protect themselves. That might be as simple as having a conversation with an older relative or neighbor. We should all pitch in and watch out for each other.”
Here are some tips on what you should look for as warning signs:
Consumers may also file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-441-2555 or electronically at http://www.attorney general.gov/.
It's known as the "grandparent scam" and Attorney General Linda Kelly is warning residents to watch out for this and other scams this Holiday season. “We see more of it this time of year,” said Kelly. “The holidays are here, and the scammers think that grandparents will be in the right frame of mind to send money to a ‘grandchild’ who is in trouble.”
There are many versions of the scam, but in most cases, it usually involves a call from a person pretending to be the resident's grandchild. The caller acts as though they are in trouble in another country and in urgent need of cash.
A lot of times, the caller will tell the victim they need the money wired or put on a pre-paid cash card. They will also plead with the victim "not to tell mom and dad about this." Kelly says, sometimes the caller will have a partner who pretends to be a law officer, attorney or hospital worker, to fool you into thinking the call is real.
The best thing to do is call and verify everything through another family member. Kelly says, the most important thing is never send money by wire or pre-paid cash card. Money that is sent this way can never be recovered.
“We have a lot of seniors in Pennsylvania, and the scammers out there have targeted their life savings,” says Kelly. “All of us can do something to help people protect themselves. That might be as simple as having a conversation with an older relative or neighbor. We should all pitch in and watch out for each other.”
Here are some tips on what you should look for as warning signs:
- Caller needs money urgently, immediately.
- Caller asks for secrecy.
- Caller asks for money sent by wire transfer or pre-paid card.
- Caller is in Canada or another foreign country.
- Caller gets some personal details wrong.
Consumers may also file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-441-2555 or electronically at http://www.attorney general.gov/.