A local man wants to warn fellow citizens after he almost fell victim to a telephone scam after receiving phone calls from individuals posing as his grandson and a lawyer.
The man received a call from his “grandson” advising him that he was in the hospital after a car crash and likely headed to jail unless the grandfather could assist him financially.
The local citizen was later called by someone acting as the grandsons lawyer, requesting the man send three $1,000 money cards from Walmart to keep his grandson out of jail.
Fortunately, the man did not fall for this reoccurring scam and it continues to be a threat for local seniors.
The local man told us that the “grandson” even sounded like his own. This is part of that scam. Many times, the scammer will talk fast adding confusion to the targeted victim. The grandson also advised the man to not call “mom or dad.
WRBI covered this sort of scam last summer. Other similar scams will include the grandchild calling from a foreign country, such as Canada, and asking for bond money. Of course, advising the call recipient to not notify parents or other relatives.
Locating and prosecuting suspects for scams can be difficult for federal authorities because many originate from a foreign country. If you believe you have been targeted or a become a victim of a scam, file a complaint with the Indiana Attorney General’s office at (800) 382-5516 or at the website.
The Indiana State Police Versailles Post accepts calls regarding potential scams at (812) 689-5000.
