The partners at G2web.com have reached that age where retirement is within 15 years from now! We recently became members of the AARP and find all their blogs and emails very helpful.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Check out the most recent blog about helping to protect the grandparents from scammers. Unfortunately, this actually happened to our mother (age 79) who almost gave a scammer 2K. She was stopped by her son that was living with her at the time! Thank goodness!
“Criminals will exploit any opportunity to steal your money, and family connections are no exception. The “grandparent scam” has been around for years; and like many other successful schemes, it’s deliberately designed to get targets into a heightened emotional state.
How It Works
You receive a phone call or text from a panicked grandchild or other family member.
They say they’re in a time-sensitive crisis—hospitalized after a car accident or jailed for example—and beg for immediate financial help.
They may hand the phone over to someone they say is a police officer, lawyer or court official who provides detailed instructions for sending money.
You may be asked to send money via gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or to provide cash, which someone will pick up from your home.
Your loved one or the official may also insist you keep the incident a secret and not involve others.
What You Should Know
Criminals mine social media and purchase stolen data for personal information they can use to craft believable storylines.
While these scams have been effective for years, criminals now have the advantage of artificial intelligence (AI) to make voices and images that much more convincing.
Scammers use our emotions against us, such as fear and panic over the safety of a loved one. These emotions make it hard for us to access logical thinking.
Anytime an unexpected communication puts you into a state of high emotion and involves urgency, let that be your signal to slow down and think things over because it may be a scam.
What You Should Do
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Adjust privacy settings on your social media accounts so that only people you know can access your posts and photos.
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As hard as it may be in the moment, disengage from a loved one’s distress call that seeks urgent financial help. Give yourself a moment to check on the person; call them directly or call a family member to check things out.
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If you or someone you know has experienced this scam, seek to limit the financial damage—contact your bank if the transaction involved your account, or contact the gift card issuer (see the back of the card) to see if they can help you recover any funds if that was the mode.
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Report the crime to local law enforcement, and press for a written report even if you experience resistance. You will want a record of the crime in the event there is a means for restitution down the road.
Knowledge gives you power over scams. AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to our free fraud helpline so you can better protect yourself and loved ones. We also advocate at the state, federal and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.”
Original Article can be found at: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/grandparent
