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The Grandparent Scam evolves

Pennsylvania officials are warning about crooks on the prowl this holiday season looking to steal money from unsuspecting senior citizens using the so-called Grandparent Scam.

The scam has been around for more than a decade, but it continues to claim victims. This year, seniors should expect some new twists, officials said.

During the holidays when many people are traveling to be with loved ones, “Scam artists will undoubtedly increase their efforts to take advantage of individuals — particularly senior citizens — [by] preying on emotional connections,” said Robin L. Wiessmann, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.

In a typical version, a senior citizen gets a frantic call from someone claiming to be a grandchild in trouble — maybe the loved one has been injured, arrested or stranded, for instance — and in desperate need of money for medical bills, car repairs, legal fees or another emergency expense.

The grandchild’s voice may sound different, supposedly because of a cold, injury or bad phone connection.

One common thread is the urgent need to send money — before the target has time to check out the story. Callers may beg the grandparent to keep the matter secret to avoid getting into trouble with their parents or because they are ashamed.

Grandparents who realize later that they’ve been had often don’t report the incident because they’re embarrassed or they worry that friends or relatives will think they no longer have the mental capacity to handle their own financial affairs, according to Teresa Osborne, secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Aging.

Some of the latest twists include targeting parents instead of grandparents, and requesting that cash be mailed instead of wire transferred possibly as a way to hook victims who see wire transfers as a red flag.

Another new tactic is to personalize the pitch by using information available through social media sites.

For example, a grandparent in Alaska this year reported being tricked out of $4,000. Thieves knew her grandson was traveling to be a pallbearer at a family funeral. The scammers used the information to seem more believable and to take advantage of the victim at an emotional time.

The banking department’s advice is to hang up on suspicious calls and contact the grandchild or grandchild’s parents through a known number. That can prove immediately that there’s no emergency and the call was a fake.

Among other tips:

• Resist the temptation to send money right away. “Truth is, there are few, if any, emergencies that require thousands of dollars and would require immediate action,” the department said.

• Ask questions only a family member would know. Asking for the name of a childhood pet, the grandparents’ pet or about gifts the loved one received on a recent visit can be a good way to identify a hoax. Family members also can create code words for emergencies.

• Don’t share too much information online. Encourage family members to be cautious about what they post on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter that scammers could use to make their pitch more convincing.

• Communicate with family members. Share travel plans and be sure to have a legitimate phone number for contacting a grandchild traveling abroad.