BBB Warns Seniors of Scam where Caller Pretends to be Grandchild

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Toledo, OH – The Better Business Bureau is warning of a scam in which seniors get tricked into sending money to someone who they are told is their grandchild.

The BBB says that criminals, often in foreign countries like Jamaica, Mexico or Caribbean nations, are very skilled at calling grandparents and tricking them into sending money. They use a trick that grandparents don’t realize; the scammers go on Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube or Instagram and locate the sites used by the grandchildren.

Kids put all kinds of family details on their pages, and the scammers learn names of brothers, sisters, pets and recent family activities. So when they call grandma, they can be very convincing.

If you’re a senior and receive a call which appears to be from a family member with a story about an urgent need for money, stop! Then call the local family members and verify the story. Do not give out any personal information or send any money until you have done your homework.

If you have older family members, discuss this scam with them. Emphasize to them that these callers are very convincing.

Tune into our local and state newscasts, anytime day or night, for this story and more.

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