With so many people traveling for the holidays, it's unfortunately a perfect set-up for scammers to prey on unsuspecting grandparents. "Emergency scams" are one type of grandparent scam. Here's how it works, and steps to take to avoid becoming a victim this holiday season.
According to the Better Business Bureau, Emergency scams are about a family member or friend in a dire situation. A common version is the "grandparent scam," where the con artist contacts a grandparent claiming to be their grandchild and asking for money. The plea is so persuasive that the grandparent wires money to the scammer, only to find out later their family member was safe and sound all along.
The Better Business Bureau advises you to resist the urge to act immediately. Instead, call your loved one directly to determine whether they are actually in trouble. If your call is left unanswered, check with family and friends. Another way you can confirm the story is to ask questions that would be hard for a scammer to answer, such as personal information: a nickname, first name of their pet, favorite subject in school, etc.
A resident from Reno recently reported to the BBB Scam Tracker their experience with a grandparent scam:
"My father received a phone call from someone claiming to be my son who is in the Air Force. They said my son was involved in a car accident, hitting a pregnant woman crossing the road in Las Vegas. He said he was on a $100,000 bond and was trying to get my father to send $13,330. Thank goodness my father's bank denied the wire because it was deemed suspicious. We finally verified my son was at work all day and there was no accident."
Remember, when you receive a phone call that seems to be dire in nature, try not to panic and act right away. A phone call to your loved one to confirm they are safe and sound can save you the headache of losing money from a scam.
