Elderly Beware!

Jae Swift · 26-11-2007, 10:23

The con: Elderly folk beware! Scammers are posing as your grandchildren to get money from you!

How it works: According to Consumeraffairs.com, the grandparents scam usually works like this:

You receive a phone call from someone who greets you with, "Hi Grandma."

"Hi."

"Do you know who this is?"

"Jeremy?"

"Yeah!"

Without knowing it, you just made a mistake. Instead of saying, "No, I don't know who this is," you supplied the scammer with the name of a grandchild. He then proceeds to impersonate that grandchild.

The "grandchild" claims he's gotten into some kind of trouble -- auto accident, overdue rent, minor brush with the law -- and needs money to fix the situation. "Can you please help? But don't tell mum. She'd kill me if she found out!"

This may seem like an obvious scam, but it's fooled plenty of people -- mostly because the scammers are good at what they do. They choose their targets carefully, tug on the heartstrings, and keep other family members "out of the loop" until it's too late.

One scammer "victimized dozens of seniors and found his victims by scanning the phone book for old-fashioned sounding names. One of his victims, an 86-year-old grandmother, even had to use a walker in order to get to her bank and withdraw money for him."

The scammers are cunning -- one couple could have sworn the guy REALLY was their grandson.

Recommendation: There's one easy way to expose the fraud: DO NOT fill in any "blanks" for the scammer. For example:

"Do you know who this is?"

"No, I don't. Who is this?"

"It's your granddaughter."

"Really? Which one?"

Most likely, the next sound you hear will be a click, followed by a dial tone.

That's the easiest way not to fall for the grandparents scam.

West Ender · 26-11-2007, 12:49

Don't these people know the sound of their own grandchildren's voices or have they so many they've lost count? I've only got 2. The 8 year old lives with me and the 22 year old, on the very rare occasions he rings me, invariably mumbles, "Hi Nan it's Pete." Mind you, if he does ring, it's likely to be near Christmas or his birthday so he probably is hoping for a handout, being a student. Ah well, I'm not elderly - just slightly past my sell-by date.

beechy · 26-11-2007, 13:42

must agree west ender grand childer seldom ring unless made to by their parents and the surely we know there voices
but if they choose the wrong name surely the scams finished

BERNADETTE · 26-11-2007, 13:45

An older person might not recognise the voice especially if they are getting confused.

entwisi · 26-11-2007, 13:46

just how are they gettiong cash over teh phone? Surely if they are posting cash etc they know their Gchilds addresses?

The fact it says "auto-accident" means Jae has likely copied this verbatim from a merkin site. Its also likely to be an urban myth but ICBA to google

grannyclaret · 26-11-2007, 15:37

Erm thanks for that one. Its good to be aware ,,My grandchildren live in Burnley ,but i think if they neaded money they would not ask ,,,although their granddad is an easy touch,,,,,

.their mum pobably WOULD go mad if she thought they couldent ask her,,,,"what next."..

WillowTheWhisp · 26-11-2007, 18:01

Voices sometimes sound different on the phone. It does seem unlikely that they actually get the money without the grandparent cottoning on though.

nikkival · 26-11-2007, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

just how are they gettiong cash over teh phone? Surely if they are posting cash etc they know their Gchilds addresses?

I wondered the exact same thing so I had a look at the consumeraffairs.com website that the post was taken from. The scam took place in America last year and the money was 'wired' to the fake grandchildren who obtained false ID's to cash in the money.

The full story can be found here - "Grandparents Scam" Exposed

lancsdave · 26-11-2007, 18:28

I just hope if I'm ever that senile my family put me in a home first

BERNADETTE · 26-11-2007, 18:32

People like the scammers don't deserve to breath the same air as decent human beings. They are the scum of the earth!!

cashman · 26-11-2007, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancsdave

I just hope if I'm ever that senile my family put me in a home first

i'l ring around tomoz dave dont worry about em fogetting.

Margaret Pilkington · 26-11-2007, 20:45

If anyone calls me and calls me that G word i will spit in their eye and bugblind them........everyone, but everyone who knows me knows that I do not answer to that term of endearment.

cashman · 26-11-2007, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

If anyone calls me and calls me that G word i will spit in their eye and bugblind them........everyone, but everyone who knows me knows that I do not answer to that term of endearment.

can understand ya not wanting to be called GARINDA, margaret.

lancsdave · 26-11-2007, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

i'l ring around tomoz dave dont worry about em fogetting.

I might get a room next to yours

entwisi · 27-11-2007, 07:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikkival

I wondered the exact same thing so I had a look at the consumeraffairs.com website that the post was taken from. The scam took place in America last year and the money was 'wired' to the fake grandchildren who obtained false ID's to cash in the money.

So quite simply how many grandparents would 'wire' money . By this we mean use of things like Western Union. I mean its very name is now synonymous with scammers. You send cash to someone who can be anywhere in teh world and have no control over who picks it up (In these days of fake Ids or a dodgy cashier its not exactly hard to do).

I actually nearly wet myself a couple of years ago as I was watching African Cup of Nations football and teh match of Nigeria(spiritual home of the scammer) vs someone else was sponsored by WU.