BELFAST, Maine — Police are urging area seniors to beware of a “ grandparent scam,” which almost cost a local woman thousands recently.
In this telephone scam, elderly people receive a call purportedly from their grandchildren who are in trouble in a foreign country, according to Detective Sgt. Bryan Cunningham of the Belfast Police Department. The caller then asks for money to be sent by Western Union so they can get home.
“One lady took $2,200 out of the bank,” he said.
The Belfast woman went to Western Union at the Hannaford grocery store in order to send it to what she thought was her grandson in Spain.
“But store officials urged her to get more information before wiring the money,” Cunningham said. “She found out that it was, in fact, bogus.”
Another woman received a similar phone call but called police to alert them to the scam. He said he is worried that others may have been taken in by the fake plea for help.
“Before you send any money out, confirm with somebody, that’s all,” he said. “It’s such a shame.”
Scum Bags….
This scam is VERY real. My co-worker almost got taken by it as well. Her grandson (not really HIM) called with very scratchy, cutting-in-and-out cell phone reception indicating that he was stranded in Canada. His grandmother rushed to the bank to wire him the money he needed. Thankfully between her drive from home to the bank, her REAL grandson happened to call her and that’s when they reported it! Very scary!
BRAVO to the Hannaford employees who asked that lady to check things out before wiring the money.
why not send the police to where the money goes.. or does that not work i would think someone would pick it up if it were sent
Jurisdiction nightmare I’m sure. The money mentioned was headed for Spain.
Good that this was stopped, but why are people so gullible?
Thank goodness for a Hannaford employee that was on the ball and not afraid to intervene. Maybe Western Union should offer some guidelines for employees everywhere since these scams seem to BE everywhere. They seem to involve Western Union quite often,too. Way to go Hannaford!
This Hannaford employee should be rewarded by this lady or her family for saving her a few thousand dollars. If that was my grandmother I would make sure that employee got at least $100 as a thank you. Karma always comes back around. That is great that this woman was convinced to not send the money to these swindlers.
My grandmother received a similar call a year or so ago and I made sure that she did not send the money. They told her that my brother had run into a telephone pole and he had to pay for the damage $1,000 before he would be let out of jail. Unfortunately this stuff does happen and it is best to be prepared for it.
When grandparents get to a point where they don’t know if their grandkids are in a foreign country or not, they need to be protected from other predators as well; the bogus chimney cleaner, the driveway repair scam- among others. These people are pros -they know that an elderly persons love of family will take over their life long good judgement.