With Grandparents Day occurring on September 9, Attorney General Mike DeWine has reminded grandparents and families to be on the watch for the grandparent telephone scam.
“Grandparents Day is a day to celebrate family,” said Attorney General DeWine. “But it’s also a time to remind Ohioans about the grandparent phone scam that targets grandparents and takes advantage of their special relationship with their grandchildren.”
Typically, a grandparent will receive a phone call from someone posing as a grandchild. The phony grandchild claims to be in trouble and in urgent need of money, maybe to pay a fine or a lawyer. The grandparent is asked to wire money immediately, often out of the country. To stay out of more trouble with the parents, the scammer asks the grandparent to “please don’t tell mom or dad.”
So far this year, the Attorney General’s Office has received about 50 complaints from people who have indicated money was lost in the scam. The average amount reported to have been lost is about $5,000, but some consumers report losing $10,000 or more. Dozens of other Ohioans report being targeted by the scam but not sending money.
The actual number of Ohioans who have experienced the scam is believed to be even higher because often they do not report it. But Attorney General DeWine urged anyone who falls victim to this, or any, scam to file a complaint with his office by calling 1-800-282-0515 or by visiting www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
Keep these tips in mind to help prevent becoming a victim of this scam:
- Never wire money to someone who calls unexpectedly – even if the caller claims to be a relative.
- Ask the caller questions only a family member would know.
- Be careful about information posted online, such as travel plans. Scammers can use this information to sound convincing.
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