88.5 WFDD Web Archives
WFDD Archive
Main WFDD Website News Archives Triad Arts Archives Real People Archives Sports Commentary Archives Business Report Archives  

You are visiting the WFDD web archives.

Click here to return to our main website with the latest news from WFDD and NPR.

Search the WFDD archives
Listen (mp3) Listen  

Grandchild-in-Trouble Scam is Preying on Triad Seniors

August 8, 2011 | David Ford

Grandparents in Greensboro are finding themselves in the middle of a phone scam. According to police, the scam involves a caller who claims the victim’s grandchild is in trouble in another country and needs money.

 

The caller then begs the grandparents not to tell the grandchild’s parents, and asks them to wire money to Western Union to pay for bail and court costs.

 

According to Greensboro Police Department Public Information Officer Susan Danielsen, the Grandchild-in-Trouble scam or a variation of it has been around for at least three years and it's not limited to the Triad. She says many people have become wise to it, refusing to wire the money. However, this summer her office has received two to three calls per month from seniors who have fallen victim to the scam.

 

Danielsen says this scam is hard to investigate. There's no way to trace who picks up the money, and there is no way for the grandparents to get their money back. The scam increases during the summer and holiday months when young adults are most likely to travel.

 

To avoid being victimized by the Grandchild-in-Trouble scam, Danielsen suggests that grandparents be aware of their grandchild's whereabouts, and she advises them to call a relative to find out their grandchild's location if needed. She warns seniors to never wire money to strangers.


<< earlier stories later stories >>
<< September 1997 >>
Su M T W Th F Sa
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   

Show month: