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The Brown Deer Police Department will use this blog to provide residents with current crime information and trends, crime prevention tips, as well as pertinent news, legal updates, and notes as it relates to your community and Police Department.
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Grandson/Granddaughter Scam
By Brown Deer Police Department
Monday, Sep 15 2008, 09:03 AM
Be advised that this particular scam has been entering the Milwaukee area with at least one couple having fallen victim to the scam:
The following is copied from "Scamnot.org" For additional information on this and other scams that are being perpetrated please visit http://www.scamnot.org/index.asp
During a recent seminar, Detective Case from the Fresno Sheriff’s Department Elder Abuse Unit and scamnot co-webmaster was approached by an individual who stated two of his friends received calls in the last few weeks from individuals stating they were their grandsons needing money to get out of a Canadian Jail.The following information was sent out in January 2008, and it seems this scam is now making its way back around.You receive a call from a grandson or granddaughter saying they are in trouble. The caller says they are in jail or have been in an accident either in Canada or Mexico and need money right away to pay fines or to receive medical attention.Border states have seen an increase in this type of scam. Individuals in the states of Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, California, and Texas.Many times the scammer knows the name of the family member so the senior does not question it and sends the money, only later to find out they have been scammed. The caller asks the victim not to discuss the matter with his or her parents for fear of angering them.Other times the caller waits for a person to answer the phone and starts off with “Grandma/Grandpa guess who?” and they get an answer like “Johnny is that you?” “Yes Grandma/Grandpa this is Johnny and I’m in trouble…….”and the scammer is on his way. Things to do to insure you are not being scammed:
- Contact other family member before sending money, ask if they know of the situation.
- If the grandchild states that they are in jail or in a hospital, ask which one. Contact that institution to find out if the grandchild is actually in that facility.
- Consider where the child wants the money sent. If it is to be sent to somebody else, do not do it. Remember, if the child is in jail, another prisoner could have gotten your information from discussions with the grandchild
- If you send money ask that identification be provided by the receiver before the money is paid out.
- Regardless of the request to not talk to the parents, confirm through another family member that what you were told is true or do not send the money.
