Grandparents scam continues to evolve
Last year I shared some “New Twists on an Old Scam.” True to form, the fraudsters who brought you the classic grandparents scam are still up to their old tricks in brand new ways. This scam is labeled a classic because it is tried and true, which means everyone needs to keep spreading the word to our friends and families. For review: In the original scam, the fraudster would call in a panicked state, claiming to be a grandchild in trouble on vacation far away, usually in a foreign country. They wouldn’t sound like themselves, but of course that was because they were injured, a broken nose from the car accident in which they were just involved and jailed for, so they needed money to bail them out right away.
They would be so embarrassed and plead with you not to tell their parents. Grandchildren hold the sweetest spot in your heart, so of course you don’t want to get them in any more trouble. You oblige and wire the $3,000 they need for bail and to cover damages. After all, you just want them home safe.
Scam artists involved in this scheme tug right at the heartstrings of caring and loving grandparents. You still love all your grandkids the same, but you’ve become so savvy to the old tricks, you’ve shared your stories, and you’ve warned your friends about what to look out for when they get these suspicious calls.
Now, the scam artists have had to get more creative and are once again targeting grandparents with new twists on this old scam.
The variations on this scam started with claims of alleged kidnappings, the exploitation of the military status of U.S. servicemen and women who are stationed overseas, demands for time-sensitive cash payments, and instead of bail money for jail, the story could be that your grandchild has defaulted on a loan and is threatened with jail time if you do no pay up.
The ‘messengers’
What’s new? More recently, there have been reports of scammers impersonating police officers and sending “messengers” right to someone’s front door to collect the grandchild’s bail payment. Even more, they will insist that some payments be made in gift cards, which you should take as a sure sign of fraud.
These grandparent scammers are now calling and claiming to be law enforcement; they might even give you a name and a badge number when they tell you they have arrested your grandson or granddaughter who owes a hefty sum of money if they don’t want to spend the night in jail.
Remember, they will know personal information (names and whereabouts) that they most likely got on social media. Then, to speed things along and get their hands on your money as soon as possible, they have taken to sending a courier to your door to claim your cash.
Start screening
Even if the grandparent scammers are using new schemes, all the old rules still apply. Screen your calls. If you do get a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild from an unfamiliar phone number, just hang up and call back to verify on your grandchild’s personal cell phone.
You might want to set up a special “code” for all family members so you can verify who you are talking to. The same goes for suspicious callers claiming to be law enforcement.
Simply take the name and badge number they give you and call your local authorities directly to confirm the story.
Taking the few extra minutes to verify their story can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of heartache. In scenarios like these, it is best to get as many people involved as possible to deter these thieves.
Continue to share your stories and pass along the information to raise awareness. Feel free to contact the BBB Education Foundation at 713-341-6141 if you have any questions or want to share your experience.