New Take on “Grandparent Scam” in Delaware County
Delaware County Sheriff’s officials are warning residents about another twist to the so-called “grandparent scam.”
Officials say a resident said he got a call from a private number when the female caller tried to convince him to send her $4,000 immediately after she had been involved in a crash and was ticketed. The woman told the man she had to pay right away or lose her license. The resident says the woman was very convincing but, as he thought it over, she hung up while he hesitated.
The “grandparent scam” generally has the caller targeting an older person, posing as a grandchild in trouble. The caller tries to get the victim to give out personal and financial information.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office warns people to never give out personal information on the phone and to contact other family members to find out if the caller is who they say they are. Never purchase gift cards for the purpose of providing the card number to someone who claims to be a loved one in trouble. Gift cards are not a legitimate form of payment.
All suspicious calls should be reported to police.