Sedona AZ (March 12, 2013) – As universities throughout Arizona prepare for spring break, Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning students and their loved ones to be on the lookout for popular scams that typically target grandparents.
Although other family members can also be targets of these schemes, grandparents are the most likely to become the first victims. Typically, the grandparent receives a frantic phone call, which they are led to believe is their grandchild away for spring break. A scammer, posing as their grandchild, explains that he or she has gotten into trouble—often in Mexico or Canada—and needs their help. The “grandchild” might claim he or she caused a car accident or is in trouble with the law and requires money to be wired immediately.
“The grandparent scam preys on the love and concern a grandparent has for their grandchildren,” said BBB President and CEO Matthew Fehling. “Unfortunately, with the popularity of social media and students sharing their travel plans and posting pictures, these calls may be more convincing than ever.”
BBB offers four tips to avoid falling for the “Grandparent Scam” this spring break:
- Students should share their spring break travel plans with immediate family members before leaving the state or country and provide cell phone numbers and an email address of a friend they are traveling with in the case of an emergency.
- Family members should remind students to be cautious when sharing details about travel plans on social media.
- If a grandparent or relative receives a phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild in distress, BBB advises not to disclose any information before confirming the person’s true identity. Ask a personal question about their childhood that only close family would know.
- Be leery of requests to wire money through Western Union or MoneyGram, which should be seen as a “red flag.” Funds sent via wire transfer are hard to track once received by scammers and are rarely recovered by law enforcement or banking officials.
BBB recommends that victims of this scam report the incident immediately to local police. If there is a request to wire money to Canada, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre (CAFCC) has established a hotline and website to report such fraud. Reports can be filed directly by calling the CAFCC at 1-888-495-8501.
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From Tony Palermo, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
Please share with all your family & friends.
We have noticed a trend in the last month of fraudulent charges being made against credit cards in our county. This problem is not local to any one area, but county wide if you have a credit card.
Please be cautious with the handling of your card. Carry only one card and try to have all transactions in front of you. Keep you receipts and check them daily against your account. Depending on your card holding company, you should be able to check all transactions on-line or by phone with the phone number on the back of the card.
If you shop online, think about using a 3rd person party like “Pay-Pal” to pay for the charges. When you make the purchase Pay-Pal will always send you an email verifying the purchase.
If an unauthorized charge happens to you, call our non- emergency number 928 771-3260 to file a report. If your credit card company removes the charge from your account the credit card company is the victim, but you may have had your I.D. stolen.
Here is just a sampling of current investigations:
A card held in Congress had charges made in Phoenix area Home Depot and Mega Furniture Store without the card holder knowledge. The possibility of the card holder using his card at Bashas Grocery Store may have led to the theft due to Bashas’s computer system being hacked. The fraudulent charge was spotted by the credit card company.
A card holder in Seligman had a charge of $255 made for the purchase of a dress from an internet store based in California. The dress was shipped to Avondale AZ for reshipping to another location. This case is currently under review by both the YCSO and local Avondale Police. This charge was spotted by the card holder during a review of his card activity online.
A card holder in Yarnell had charges made to her card for $82 in Tucson. The possibility of the card holder using his card at Bashas Grocery Store may have led to the theft due to Bashas’s computer system being hacked.
Another “Craig’s List scam” was hit in the Verde this month. Beware of buying or selling anything on Craig’s List where they will buy and have you ship to an out of state location and pay you over the true value, then ask for the difference. Their payment will bounce within a few days leaving you out of pocket for the value. ONLY buy or sell to local people that you can go face to face with.
Anthony J. (Tony) Palermo CCPS
Community Relations Specialist
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
255 E. Gurley Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
928.777.7223
This is sickening to think that people would target grandparents, since in the moment they may not be thinking clearly!
Orlando, Florida and elsewhere:
Here’s a scam so bad even Mickey Mouse took a stand. Guests in hotels around Disney World have been finding pizza delivery menus conveniently slipped under their doors, but place an order—and make the mistake of giving your credit card number—and you’ll really pay. The phone number isn’t connected to a pizza parlor but to identity thieves. Disney World supported a law designed to crack down on the people handing out the fliers, but Orlando police say the problem persists.
Solution: If you’re craving a slice, get a recommendation from the hotel. Or meet the pizza delivery man in the lobby and pay in cash.