Police warn of 'Grandchild in trouble' scams targeting local seniors

In grandparent scams, scammers pose as panicked grandchildren in trouble, calling or sending mes-sages urging you to wire money immediately. (FTC/Courtesy)

In grandparent scams, scammers pose as panicked grandchildren in trouble, calling or sending mes-sages urging you to wire money immediately. (FTC/Courtesy)

“Grandma: I’m in the hospital, sick, please wire money right away.” “Grandpa: I’m stuck overseas, please send money.” Grandparent scams like these have taken a new twist – and a new sense of urgency – in these days of COVID-19.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) has been receiving local reports of these "Grandchild in trouble" scams targeting area residents, especially older adults.

"The suspects generally target our senior population," YCSO said in a news release this week. "Also, suspects are using COVID concerns as part of scam."

Here’s what YCSO and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) want all older adults to know about these scams.

In grandparent scams, scammers pose as panicked grandchildren in trouble, calling or sending messages urging you to wire money immediately. They’ll say they need cash to help with an emergency – like paying a hospital bill or needing to leave a foreign country. They pull at your heartstrings so they can trick you into sending money before you realize it’s a scam. In these days of Coronavirus concerns, their lies can be particularly compelling. But we all need to save our money for the real family emergencies.

So, how can we avoid grandparent scams or family emergency scams? If someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a grandchild, other family member or friend desperate for money:

Resist the urge to act immediately – no matter how dramatic the story is.

Verify the caller’s identity. Ask questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer. Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine. Check the story out with some-one else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.

Don’t send cash, gift cards, or money transfers – once the scammer gets the money, it’s gone!

For more information, read Family Emergency Scams. And if you get a scam call, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Information provided by YCSO and Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, FTC Division of Consumer & Business Education.


Donate Report a Typo Contact
Most Read