Almost every older person I know has been the victim (or almost a victim) of a grandparent scam.
Scammers have targeted my dad, who’s 88, several times. Fortunately, he’s been savvy enough to evade a rip-off. A few times he’s even turned the tables, chatting with the scammer in an extended conversation before abruptly hanging up, although experts don’t recommend that tactic.
Here’s how the call went for Dad: someone claiming to be a grandson told him he got into trouble with the police in England. He needed money wired immediately to get bailed out, but didn’t want to call his parents because they’d be mad at him.
Oddly enough, my dad DID have a grandson traveling in England at the time. He didn’t recognize the voice, and the “grandson” didn’t volunteer his name. My quick-thinking dad asked the scammer a couple of questions that his grandson would know, and the thief hung up.
My uncle also nearly got scammed by a similar call. He went so far as to try to withdraw $15,000 from his bank account, but a sharp bank teller recognized the scam and called over a bank manager. Together, they convinced my uncle that a thief, not a grandson, had a called.
To mark National Grandparents Day (Sept. 11) we’re sharing the following item from Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland. It seems that in the post-pandemic era have taken a new twist. Here’s what the BBB says:
The FTC released a warning last year advising consumers to be cautious of scammers posing as grandchildren who are sick in the hospital or stranded overseas due to coronavirus. These communications come with a sense of urgency which panics victims into wiring money under the pretext of paying a hospital bill or making travel arrangements.
“Scammers know how to pull at the heartstrings of grandparents” says Sue McConnell, BBB Serving Greater Cleveland. “When a grandchild is in distress, it’s natural for well-meaning grandparents to panic and rush to wire beloved family members the necessary funds. However, it’s best to approach these situations with a more level-headed perspective. Simply asking questions, such as asking for a child’s middle name or the name of a best friend, may prevent a consumer from falling victim to this scam. The lies may be particularly compelling, but it’s better to save money for real family emergencies.”
In 2021, Better Business Bureau received over 200 reports of scams taking the form of a family or friend emergency. In these scams, over 35% of consumers reported losing money. Most commonly, this was in the form of an online money transfer or prepaid credit or gift card. Victims were usually solicited through phone calls. A Toledo, Ohio consumer told BBB that they “received a call from Attorney Danny Morgan. He told me my grandson Allan was arrested in Connecticut & needed bail money. I asked the caller where he got his law degree & he said it was none of my business.” The consumer told BBB they did not have a grandson named Allen nor any family in Connecticut.
BBB Serving Greater Cleveland wants to remind the public that older adults are susceptible to many types of scams, not just ones specifically targeting grandparents. Additionally, BBB is providing the following advice so consumers can avoid falling victim to a family emergency scam.
- Verify the Caller’s Identity. Ask specific and targeted questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer, such as a middle name or the name of an elementary school. Confirm the emergency itself by contacting another family member or friend through a trusted method. Verify the emergency out with someone else, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.
- Resist the Urge to Act Immediately – It’s easy to panic when a family member may be in danger, but staying calm can mean the difference between becoming a victim or remaining a cautious consumer
- Don’t Send Money – Scammers may ask for cash in the form of cash, money transfers, or gift cards. Don’t send funds until you can validate contacts.
Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland recommends individuals who have been scammed to report the incident immediately to law enforcement. Additionally, victims can report scams, regardless of whether or not they have lost money, to BBB.org/ScamTracker. These reports can help others avoid falling victim to fraud.
