The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office has issued an advisory concerning a recurrent phone scam circulating in Sweetwater County that targets seniors. Detective Dick Blust, Jr. says the victim receives a telephone call from a man who identifies himself as the person’s grandson and goes on to say that he is in jail after being involved in an accident and needs money for bail, damages, and attorney expenses.
There are variations of this scam. In other instances, the phony grandson will tell his victim that he was fishing (often in Canada) when his boat was searched and drugs were found. But the common denominator is always the same - a grandson in legal trouble who needs money fast. The other common factor is that the caller will insist that the victim wire the money through Western Union or other service or to provide bank account routing numbers.
Residents should be alert for similar calls, and to confirm independently any such information with other relatives before sending off any money.
There are variations of this scam. In other instances, the phony grandson will tell his victim that he was fishing (often in Canada) when his boat was searched and drugs were found. But the common denominator is always the same - a grandson in legal trouble who needs money fast. The other common factor is that the caller will insist that the victim wire the money through Western Union or other service or to provide bank account routing numbers.
Residents should be alert for similar calls, and to confirm independently any such information with other relatives before sending off any money.
There are different variations of that scam, indeed. I've read about them at http://www.callercenter.com along with different phone numbers being used by the scammers.
ReplyDeleteThere are also other phone scams which surfaced recently being reported there, too, and I find it really helpful that we get continuous updates on them so we can avoid becoming victims to these crimes.