Community Chat

[mistriTsquirrel]

My grandma fell for this sort of scam.  

The scammer knew my cousin's name.  Not sure if she wired the money or gave a CC #, but it was over $1000.

One of the things the guy impersonating my cousin asked was that she not tell anyone he'd been arrested.  She thought she was sparing him embarrassment until she found out my cousin had been at work at the time.

@fortune  Your granddog is the cutest!!  You can post a whole thread full of Jasper pictures, and we won't mind!!  

[akaburtonfan]

---

@Kachina624 wrote:

@house_cat  It's probably some of the personal info they can pick up when people post on social media sites.  Grandmas love the brag about their grandkids.  I've never heard anyone mention about getting a call from a girl.  It's always grandsons who "get in trouble". 

---

When my mom got this call it was about her granddaughter.  The first person was supposedly a lawyer then there was a younger female voice that was supposed to be her granddaughter. The story was that she'd been picked up for drinking and driving. She was asked not to tell anyone because the girl was embarrassed and didn't want anyone to know. 

After I explained that it was a scam, I told my mom that it was obvious she didn't talk to her granddaughter often enough to recognize it wasn't her voice. 

Edited to add -- I'm not sure how/why my mom was picked -- she didn't have a computer so was never on social media bragging about her granddaughter. May have just gotten lucky with a random call.

[chrystaltree]

That scam has been around for ages, I'm surprised anyone ever fell for something as stupid as that but people never fail to surprise me these days.  Tell someone take all their money out of the bank in $1 bills and drive around and toss it out the car window.....and some people will do it.  No questions asked.   And then they'll complain about how they got scammed...lol

[chrystaltree]

---

@mistriTsquirrel wrote:

My grandma fell for this sort of scam.  

The scammer knew my cousin's name.  Not sure if she wired the money or gave a CC #, but it was over $1000.

One of the things the guy impersonating my cousin asked was that she not tell anyone he'd been arrested.  She thought she was sparing him embarrassment until she found out my cousin had been at work at the time.

@fortune  Your granddog is the cutest!!  You can post a whole thread full of Jasper pictures, and we won't mind!!  

"Don't tell anyone" is always part of the script, it ensures that the person who was duped will remain silent for a while...until they find out they were scammed.  It surprises me that people don't know how one pays bail for people but they don't inquire because "Billy" said please don't tell anyone.  They just pull out their credit card and rattle off the numbers.  I think they make 100 calls and 2 people fall for it but if they do that everyday, they make millions off that scam.  I remember one of those articles said they don't always know the name of the grandchild...they open up with "Granny, I need your help!!!!".  And Granny says  "Kevin, is that you?"   And the scammers are in....

---

[SunValley]

My mother got this call about 10 years ago. She fell for it at first, but no way was she sending money, as she was too heated up over the irresponsible behavior and giving her fake grandson he!! for drunk driving. That scammer got an earful. Then her common sense kicked in and she hung up and called me to verify a few things. I asked what she said and died laughing--she could rival any revival tent preacher with her lecture on bad behavior.

[september]

I've never understood the harsh replies aimed at people who fall for scams like this.

a few years ago, my mom did get the grandchild/drunk driving call, and it was concerning a granddaughter, who would have been my daughter.  My mom was worried at first, but got suspicious a few minutes into the conversation, so she ended it.  Called me later to tell me about it.

Fast forward to today...she was seriously ill last year, in the hospital for almost 3 months, and not expected to live.  Against all odds, she pulled through but her mental status will never be the same.  I worry that someone like her could fall for a scam like this.  

She won't....she has caregivers to handle things like this!  But not all seniors have the backup they need. 

[house_cat]

---

@chrystaltree wrote:

---

"Don't tell anyone" is always part of the script, it ensures that the person who was duped will remain silent for a while...until they find out they were scammed.  It surprises me that people don't know how one pays bail for people but they don't inquire because "Billy" said please don't tell anyone.  They just pull out their credit card and rattle off the numbers.  I think they make 100 calls and 2 people fall for it but if they do that everyday, they make millions off that scam.  I remember one of those articles said they don't always know the name of the grandchild...they open up with "Granny, I need your help!!!!".  And Granny says  "Kevin, is that you?"   And the scammers are in....

---

---

@chrystaltree

I first thought, as you did, that my mom was the one to give away my son's name when she got the call. My dad insisted that the caller said, "This is Kevin", and according to many other reports that I've heard, it is not unusual for them to know the name of the grandchild.

[qvcaddition]

I just got the same call.  Eighty and not stupid.  Second time.  They have Been doin g it for years. He hung up when I said it,s not you.

[proudlyfromNJ]

Two of my good friends received these calls last week. Neither of them had heard of this scam and were on the phone with the scammers for awhile. Finally they each came to their senses and hung up. Neither friends use the internet so had no idea of the scam.

[kivah]

There's also the Grandma SCAM - and I was called twice. The guy said, Hi Grandma ---- and I said this sounds like a scam --- and he said: what's a scam? I also don't have chidren/grandchildren. 

They say, hi Grandma or hi Grandpa. The senior usually says, is this (Billy - or gives another name). Then the scammer says, yes Grandma/Grandpa. Then the scammer says, he was in a car accident (or other madeup situation) and they need money WIRED (another Red Flag) to them.

The 2 different guys that called me - had a low, natural voice - so I could see how seniors may think it was a family member - especially if they have hearing problems.

NEVER speak to strangers on the phone, internet, or letter in the mail.

If u have any doubt, call the family member.

There's a SCAM a day.