We went online to the US Better Business Bureau to see what scams are typically perpetrated on others. We found the exact “top” scenario this elderly couple went through and it is almost verbatim to what happened:
Top Emergency Scam: Grandparents Scam
The “Grandparents Scam” has been around a while, but it’s still so prevalent we need to mention it again: grandchild/niece/nephew/friend is traveling abroad and calls/texts/emails to say he or she has been mugged/arrested/hurt and needs money right away (“…and please don’t tell mom and dad!”). Plus the FBI says that, thanks to social media, it’s getting easier and easier for scammers to tell a more plausible story because they can use real facts from the supposed victim’s life (“Remember that great camera I got for Christmas?” “I’m in France to visit my old college roommate.”). Easy rule of thumb – before you wire money in an emergency, check with the supposed victim or their family members to make sure they really are traveling. Odds are they are safe at home.
ABG reached out to a former Scarsdale Detective about this and he recounted almost verbatim how the phone call and subsequent transaction transpired. It was eerie how accurate he was. He suggested calling the police in the jurisdiction within which they live. A subsequent phone call to the Greenburgh Police Department found me discussing this with a 911 operator. She said there was no crime committed because nothing was lost by the couple and they were just acting a good grandparents usually do. Not smart grandparents, but good grandparents. She said be happy they made the phone call and that no harm was done. Or was it?
My Scarsdale Detective suggested that since this person got them to go this far, the next step is to contact them again with a simple call that the funds didn’t go through and to try again. The next would be to threaten harm to a family member unless they pay up. He also suggested they will be contacted by more scam artists posing as contractors and other representatives and they will use another family member’s name to convince them this is on the “up and up”. The scammers may even come to their home! The scammers are smart enough to be able to push enough of their buttons that they will believe what they are being told. We’re sure their adult children would probably tell us they could never “put one over” on them when they were youngsters growing up.
As we were discussing this in the ABG office, Sean told our group of a newly married couple who took their financial gifts and deposited those in the bank before taking their two-week honeymoon out of country. They came to learn the hard way that their new apartment had been burgled during their absence (they were still overseas and didn’t know what was taken). How did the thiefs know they would be away? The new bride had posted their honeymoon itinerary several times on her Facebook account, including when they would be leaving and returning. Now, before you tell us that Facebook accounts are all friends that you invite to join you, we concede that point. However, how many of you accept friendship requests from people you don’t know just to be able to say you have “x” amount of friends on Facebook? Add in all the other social media out there and its easy to get that information.
We learned this same elderly couple was scammed years ago via the US Mail by someone who filled out and submitted a change of address form to have their weekly paychecks diverted to the scammer. Little if no authentication is required to prove who you are to change a mailing address. Obviously, everyone must remain diligent and if they see a change in mail delivery habits, they should inquire with the Post Office as to what they can do to fix the problem. It also goes without saying to call the police for help.
In trying to figure out what to be on the lookout for that would indicate a scam, our Scarsdale Detective gave us some basic points that will always be helpful. We are posting them with the caveat that this are guides, not hard and fast rules, and they don’t ensure you will be scam-proof.
If contacted by a seemingly loved one or friend in trouble ask for a phone number and tell the caller you’ll call them right back. IF they give you a number you don’t recognize, don’t call it. Instead, call their number that you always use to call them directly to see if you can reach them. If you cannot reach them, and have access to the internet, type in the phone number in a search field. If it’s a scam phone number, you may be surprised and it will say so.
If the caller says they cannot hang up, don’t know the phone number to give you, tells you the phone can’t receive calls or gives you any reason for you not to hang up, its all part of the scam. Hang up and call the police.
If the caller gives you an address, phone number, account number, etc., to wire money to, don’t do it. Rather, call the police first. Don’t worry about being rude.
If the caller asks you for any kind of account number, such as checking, savings, mortgage, or passwords, pass-codes or specific account information, don’t. Again, don’t worry about being rude.
In the end, caveat emptor rings true more and more. Always be vigilant, questioning and reaching out to family and friends if something doesn’t seem right. As soon as someone starts asking you for information, money or specifics, beware! Don’t relinquish any information or specifics about your bank accounts, credit cards, passwords, account names, and so on. If you think something is up, hang up. If you can, get a phone number and then hang up and call the police. And, if you are approached or called or emailed, let your friends know and immediately contact the police to let them know what is happening. Ultimately, it will help us have A Better Greenburgh.
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