Grandmother Scams

These scams started out as the "stranded scam", where scammers would target grandmothers and call them up and pretend to be their grandson, saying they were stranded in Mexico and now at the police station and needed money wired to them to get back home (and please don't tell anyone...) Grandmother's all over were falling for this scam, even when the person on the phone did not sound like their grandson. they would override their gut instinct and tell themselves that it was a bad connection or that they were under stressed and so "sounded different". And what grandmother would refuse to help their grandchild?

I hate scammers. This scam is still pretty active.

I am hearing more and more of these grandmother scams so Grandmothers everywhere - beware! Always call someone else to verify the location of your grandchild. Never wire money to anyone without speaking with another relative first. The scammer, pretending to be your grandson, will tell you not to tell anyone because they are embarrassed - but they really don't want you to tell anyone because then you'll figure out it's a scam and they won't be able to steal your money.

And today's news had a clip of an even more despicable Grandmother scam - the kind where it was actually her grandson who WAS doing the scamming. Heartbreaker.

He stole $200,000 from his 78-year-old grandmother in order to buying himself drugs, a motorcycle, and a ring for his girlfriend (who actually split town when she found out what he was doing - smart girl).  He told his grandmother that he needed money to pay fines and court fees before he could be accepted in the army, and she gave him the money because she thought it would keep him out of jail for late fees.

According to investigators, he would then call and even have his friends call and call and call his grandmother and pretend to be employees of the Seminole County courthouse, even a judge, demanding late fees, fines and other penalties from her. And she kept paying. And when she ran out of money, she borrowed it.What grandmothers will do for their grandchildren, and clearly even one who didn't deserve such love and support.


I am happy to say he was arrested but think of the emotional and financial devastation he left behind.

And now he really IS in jail, but he won't be able to work the scam now.

Grandmothers - you have a lot of love to give, and the world needs you... just double and triple check with others before wiring money to anyone or giving out any of your bank or credit card or social security information.