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Grandparents Victims of Latest Phone Scam: Pose As Grandchildren Needing Money

They ask grandparents to write a check or wire money to get them out of a bind

By Robert Siciliano, Security Consultant to Intelius

April 6, 2010 - What grandparent isn’t excited to hear the sound of their grandchild’s voice on the other end of the telephone line? But what if the next time the phone rings it’s really from a con artist pretending to be a grandchild in need. 

	Update: Sept. 10, 2010 - There have been recent reports that the grandparent scam in this report has spread from telephone contacts to the use of emails. The emails, too, are appeals for money from someone posing as a grandchild.
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Scammers have stooped to an all-time low – preying on grandparents by posing as their grandchildren and asking them to write a check or wire money to get them out of a bind. The scammers have perfected their art so much that it actually confuses concerned grandparents who want to help their financially-strapped grandchildren however they can.

The popular scam has already targeted thousands of grandparents, conning them out of thousands of dollars of hard-earned savings.  There are ways, however, to help avoid being duped by scammers just looking for a quick and easy payday.   

Getting a call from a grandchild should never give grandparents pause, but with scammers getting more creative about their targets, every grandparent should be equipped with important advice on how to handle a potentially fraudulent call.

Here are some tips for how can grandparents protect themselves from falling victim to a similar scam:

1.  Be wary. Every grandparent wants to help their grandchild however they can, but be aware that if you receive a call from a grandchild requesting money via check or money wire it could potentially be scam.

2.  Always verify the truth. If your grandchild is calling you with a money matter and asking you to lie to their parents, always call their parents to verify the issue.

3.  Get personal. If you have any suspicions about the caller on the other end of the line, ask a personal question that only he or she can answer to help authenticate him or her.

4.  Don’t be afraid to discuss. Have a conversation with your grandchild or grandchildren about this scam so you are all on the same page if the phone ever rings. 

5.      Know their number. Get your grandchild’s mobile phone number now and call that number if there is ever an issue, even if the caller says he or she doesn't have his/her phone. If you do receive a suspicious call, immediately call back your grandchild back to confirm he or she is actually in trouble.  If the call is coming from an unfamiliar number, consider doing a Reverse Phone search or Reverse Cell Phone Directory lookup.

6.      Alert the police. If you receive a call that seems like it could be a potential scam, alert local authorities and provide them with whatever information you can – phone number, gender information, and specifics of the call.

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