Grandparent Scam

Scammers will contact an elderly person posing as their grandchild in an attempt to solicit money from them. In these scams, there is usually a sense of urgency, such as the grandchild being arrested or hurt. The scammer may use extreme emotions and may then involve another scammer posing as a police officer, doctor, or lawyer to make it seem more believable. The ‘grandchild’ may plea not to involve parents and to wire money immediately.

From 2015 through the beginning of 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) logged more than 91,000 reports of crooks posing as a relative or friend of the victim. (https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/grandparent.html)

How to protect yourself from a grandparent scam

Hang up immediately and call the grandchild on a known number to make sure they are safe.

Contact other family members or friends if you have any concerns that the emergency could be real.

If you speak to someone who claims to be a police officer, call the relevant law enforcement agency to verify the person’s information.

Don’t drop your guard because the number on your caller ID looks familiar. Scammers can use technical tricks to make it appear that they’re calling from a number you recognize.

Don’t let a caller rush you into making a decision and make sure to refuse giving them any information.

Don’t send cash or wire money to a person claiming to be a grandchild. Scammers prefer those payment methods because they’re difficult to trace.

If you believe you are a victim of a scam, contact Bethpage immediately at 800-628-7070.