Crime & Safety

The 'Grandparent Scam': Learn How to Protect Yourself

Elk Grove Police Department provides tips on avoiding a common con game.

A phone scam targeting elderly people is once again making the rounds in Northern California, according to the .

In the so-called 'Grandparent Scam,' a caller pretends to be a relative of the victim who has gotten into trouble and needs money immediately.

One Woodland woman recently wired $14,000 to a scammer posing as her grandson and claiming to have suffered a car accident, according to The Sacramento Bee.

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While it might seem obvious to confirm someone's identity before sending them money, a fact sheet provided by police says imposters disorient their victims by calling in the middle of the night and using tidbits of family information gleaned from public sources like obituaries.

Here are some more tips from the Consumer Federation of America:

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If you get a call or email from someone claiming to know you and asking for help, check to confirm that it’s legitimate before you send any money. Ask some questions that would be hard for an imposter to answer correctly – the name of the person’s pet, for example, or the date of their mother’s birthday. Contact the person who they claim to be directly. If you can’t reach the person, contact someone else – a friend or relative of the person. Don’t send money unless you’re sure it’s the real person you know.

To learn more, click on the PDF attached to this article.


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