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Re-activateIf you receive a phone call from a grandchild, or anyone else for that matter, claiming that they're stranded and need money, make sure the call is legitimate before sending help.
The Better Business Bureau and several state attorneys general are warning that senior citizens around the country are falling victim to a scam being perpetrated by con artists in Canada.
The ploy works like this: You get a phone call from a "grandchild" claiming to have been arrested or involved in an automobile accident while traveling in Canada. The desperate caller asks you to wire money to pay for damage or bail. The amount typically is several thousand dollars; however, one grandmother sent $15,000, the BBB says.
The scam was seen in 2007, although there has been a major increase in the number of cases reported this year. Since the beginning of 2008, there were nearly 350 complaints to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, almost half of them during July and August.
Authorities are not sure how the con artists are obtaining grandparents' names. But they suspect that the calls may, in fact, be random and that the callers are using a technique that relies on you to fill in the blanks. For example, the caller may say, "It's me, your favorite grandchild," hoping that you'll respond with your grandchild's name.
If you get such a call, the BBB urges you verify the caller's identity by calling the person directly or checking the story with a family member. If you've been victimized, contact your state attorney general or other consumer protection agency. —Anthony Giorgianni
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