We’ve heard so many sad stories of grandparents being scammed out of hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars because they thought their grandchild needed their help, was in jail, had an accident while traveling to another country, was being held captive, and many more variations.

Scam Alert: Your grandchild, nephew, son are in trouble and need your $$ FAST!

TRUTH: If anyone tells you to NOT call the police or another relative, CALL THE POLICE AND ANOTHER RELATIVE. This is a VERY popular scare tactic scam affecting seniors around the globe. They won’t know the name until you supply it, they won’t know details, until you supply it and then they HAVE YOU!

There are two major approaches here. The first is by hacking your Facebook account, or someone finding a public post you accidentally added to your Facebook account listing a not-so-recent visit with a grandchild, niece, or nephew. Someone you don’t see often, but were so happy to see them when you did. You love them, and it’s obvious. That person usually comments on the photo so the scammer now has both names and can do a bit of sleuthing. Did you know there are tons of public records online with your personal information including the mortgage on your home, and so much more? Someone wanting to separate you from your money can search and find enough details on both you and your relative they can make it pretty convincing when they call you.

The second approach can happen a couple of ways. You may cross paths with someone in line at a grocery store and engage them in small talk. Without realizing it, you may give away a few key pieces of information. If they stay by you through your transaction, you may talk to the cashier you see every week and catch up briefly – providing more information. This person will glance to see your name on your card or may hear the cashier mention your last name, “Oh, Mrs. Smith, it’s so good to see you – how’s your granddaughter doing?” We don’t realize when we are trying to be friendly, or warm, we trust too much and don’t realize who is listening around us.

There are websites on the dark web and even on the regular web – if you know where to look – that will let you enter in a license plate and it will return your registration information.

The final method is more random. A caller you don’t recognize calls you. You answer and they go right into their story of how they need your help, grandma, grandpa… “Hi grandma, it’s your favorite grandson (all playful sounding).” Grandma likes the playfulness and will bite, “OK which grandson? And may start listing names. If the caller has gathered some info from the above methods, they’ll build trust immediately, especially if this grandson rarely calls. That’s when they spring the trap of urgency, “I’m afraid to talk to mom and dad….” “I really need help immediately, and no one else is answering.”

If this has happened to you, we’re so sorry. If this has happened to your grandparent, neighbor, older friend, here are some ideas for you to help them avoid becoming a victim.

  1. The first one is to stay calm and don’t react to the emotion from the caller. If they are really in need of help, you can help them better if you are calm. Chances are, it’s a scam, because good grandkids don’t ever ask grams and gramps for financial help out of the blue.
  2. Do not ever give names to the caller, no matter how friendly and playful they sound, same with personal information including if they try to verify your address, or even phone number.
  3. Is that really their voice? Think about their age.
  4. Here’s a weird, but effective thing to do. Ask them a variation of how their “horse” is, since it was sick (wink, wink) and unable to be in the show recently. Whatever their response is, you’ll know if they are who they say they are. Repeat the question in the same tone if they stumble and ask you, “What? I didn’t hear you.” They may want to have you get your head examined, but at least you know it’s probably a more legitimate call. “Oh Robbie, I’m glad you called. I’ve been so worried about you since Lightening was unable to be in the horse show due to that bad hoof….” What?! If the caller bites, hang up.
  5. Even if they don’t, get their number to call them back and then call another relative, or the real grandchild, or their spouse to get the story and check out this person.
  6. If it’s a fake caller, call the police’s non-emergency number to report it. Tell them:
    1. The time of the call
    2. The number they called
    3. The number they gave you
    4. And if you have caller ID – what number displayed.

Our biggest potential breach in our personal security is our mouth! We tell strangers way more than we realize because, as humans, we attempt to build community. It’s human nature, and it’s a vulnerability.

We will cover the scummiest of these scammers – those preying on people who’ve lost a loved one, by scouring the obituaries, church bulletins, and funeral home calendars – in a future post.