An old phone scam that is making the rounds again. It’s called the “grandparents scam,” because the caller pretends to be the victim’s grandchild who needs money because of an arrest or car crash Managing editor Tami Roleff explains how you can avoid being a victim….
A grandmother in Yucca Valley received a call recently in which the caller claimed to be her grandson. He said he had been in a car accident with a Mexican diplomat; he would be released if she wired money for legal fees. The victim then received a second call, allegedly from a lawyer. The victim wired nearly $2,500 in money grams and Green Dot cards. After talking with her grandson, she learned she had been a victim of a scam. To avoid being taken in by this scam, ask the caller information only you and your grandchild would know. Do not act without confirming the information; call your grandchild or his or her parents first on their phone to confirm whether the story is true. Refuse to send money via a wire transfer; you can never get it back. If you do fall for the scam, report it to the Sheriff’s Department.
