Courtesy of the Pima County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers
The Arizona Daily Independent is proud to announce a new column, The Scam Squad. Lou Sampson, a volunteer with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, founded the group and now they are thwarting cons by sharing their information on the latest scams to hit the Southern Arizona streets.
The Scam Squad: The Grandparent Scam
The perpetrators of the “grandparent scam” continue to phone residents, trying to convince the victim that his/her grandchild is in trouble in Mexico or Canada, and in need of financial help. The ploy always includes the plea not to tell the parents. This plea is made so that the victim will not make the call, and find out that the grandchild is, indeed, safely in school or at home. Recently, the scammers have reached a new low. In some instances, they pretend to be an authority figure from a foreign Embassy, asking for money for a lawyer. In these new situations, the victims may even be told that the grandchild’s life is in jeopardy. Someone posing as the grandchild may plead that their life is being threatened, or the scammer will demand money so that the grandchild’s life will be spared! This tactic is intended to raise the emotional response of the victim, and prevent him/her from investigating the story further. The scammer wants the Money-Gram sent immediately.
If you receive this type of call, stop! Call the grandchild, or the parents. Do not allow emotions to cloud reasoning. This is another ploy to scam your money. The scammers are dependent on you not calling your grandchild, or the parents. You should notify the Sheriff’s Department of such threats, as some seem to be demanding ransom.
This scam may cause great mental anguish. But be aware that the scammers are not above threatening, and they lie. “Don’t tell my parents” may be seen as a plea of confidence; but think about it, the parents would want to know if their child was in trouble; the parents are your children. The ‘grandparent scam’ is set to evoke emotional response, and take away your good reasoning. Please keep this in mind, and DO call your grandchild, or his/her parents, first. Then notify the Sheriff’s Department.
Call the Sheriff’s Auxilliary Volunteers with any information about Scams and Frauds, so the Scam Squad may alert your neighbors and friends as well. To contact the SCAM SQUAD to report suspicious activity, or a particular incident or fraud, call 520-351-4900.
The SCAM SQUAD