Scams on the phone

On the Phone:

Previously we talked about mail and scams from our computers. Another old fashion way scammers use is through the phone. This is a very effective way for scammers from around the world to get access to you. Scammers use the phone as a way to directly contact and deceive potential victims. They can use persuasive language and manipulation tactics to convince people to give them money or personal information. Additionally, phone calls allow scammers to have real-time communication with potential victims, which can make it harder for them to recognize that they are being scammed. Here is an example that affects seniors the most. We will discuss medicare and social security scams in another article.

GRANDPARENT SCAM

The grandparent scam is a tactic used by scammers to trick older adults into sending them money. They will call and claim to be your grandchild, or say they are with your grandchild and in desperate need of cash fast. They may ask for gift cards or for you to wire money to a specific Western Union. They may even claim to be in the hospital or jail and unable to talk to you. It's important to remember that if you receive a call like this, you should never give out personal information or send money without verifying the identity of the caller. Ask them a question only your grandchild would know the answer to, attempt to call your grandchild, and if you are unsure, hang up. Grandparent scams are all too common, with the FTC logging over 91,000 reports of scammers posing as a relative or friends of the victim, and remember that is only the ones that report it. Don't fall prey to these scammers, stay vigilant and always verify the identity of the caller before sending any money.

What they do or say:

• A call from someone claiming to be your grandchild or is with your grandchild and they desperately need cash fast. They will ask you to get a gift card or to wire money to a particular Western Union. It may be they are in the hospital or in jail and the grandchild cannot talk to you. They will tell you not to tell Mom or Dad or they may say they are a Doctor, an attorney, or a bail bondsman. They may even claim to be the grandchild but they are frantic and you don’t recognize their voice. You might divulge their name and this gives the scammer more info.

• What you should do:

  • Ask them a question only your grandchild would know the answer to

  • Attempt to call your grandchild

  • Hang up.

Grandparent scams and related cons are common - From 2015 through the first quarter of 2020, the FTC logged more than 91,000 reports of crooks posing as a relative or friend of the victim. They can be quite lucrative. They know most of us would do anything to help a relative. In July 2021 eight people were charged for allegedly running a nationwide scam network that used this ruse to steal some $2 million from more than 70 older Americans in an 11-month period.

My mother-in-law was almost a victim of this scam. She was told her grandson was in jail in Canada and she needed to go to the bank and wire $10K to a number they gave her for bail. Fortunately, when she got to the bank the teller questioned why she needed to wire money. She told them the story and they immediately alerted her that it was a scam.

Conclusion:

The grandparent scam is a tactic used by scammers to deceive older adults into sending them money. They may call and pretend to be a grandchild or say they are with a grandchild and urgently need cash. They may ask for gift cards or for you to wire money to a specific Western Union. They may even claim to be in the hospital or jail and unable to talk to you. It's essential to remember that if you receive a call like this, you should never give out personal information or send money without verifying the caller's identity. Ask them a question only your grandchild would know the answer to, attempt to call your grandchild, and if you are unsure, hang up. Grandparent scams are all too common, with the FTC logging over 91,000 reports of scammers posing as a relative or friends of the victim. If you get this call, please report it to the FTC Grandparent Scams. Stay vigilant and always verify the caller's identity before sending any money. Do you ever assume that ads on TV and radio are always legitimate? In our next article, we will discuss how TV and radio scams typically work by using persuasive language and high-pressure tactics to convince listeners to take a specific action, such as calling a phone number or visiting a website. The scammer may use a sense of urgency to create a false sense of scarcity, such as a limited-time offer or a prize about to expire.