It's not likely your grandchild is in a Canadian jail
Filed under: Ripoffs and Scams, Fraud, Relationships
Grandparents from coast to coast are getting shaken down and being conned into believing their grandchildren are being held in a Canadian jail and need cash to make bail. As unlikely as this scam might seem, it just keeps coming back -- something that happens when people pay up.
The Attorney General's office in Idaho issued an alert warning that people in that state have been targeted. About a dozen complaints were filed before the alert was issued, the office said.
This isn't just an Idaho thing. Grandparents across the nation have reported getting this call -- with some admitting they forked over the cash.
Phonebusters, a consortium of Canadian law enforcement authorities who monitor such scams, first noticed the increase in complaints about this one in the fall. As time has passed, more and more state and local authorities have been hearing the stories of elders being taken. The problem just keeps growing.
Idaho authorities offered this sample conversation for how it plays out:Victim: Hello.
Caller: Grandma?
Victim: Is that you, Justin?
Caller: Yeah, Grandma, it's me and I need some help. I wrecked my car in Canada and I'm in jail. I need $3,000 for bail so I can get out of jail. I called you because I don't want Mom and Dad to know I'm in trouble, so please don't tell them I called. Can you wire the money to me today, Grandma? I don't want to spend another night in jail. And you won't tell Mom and Dad, promise?
The sad thing about this is the scam actually is predicated on the grandparents not having much contact with their grandkids. After all, wouldn't they recognize their own grandchild's voice? Wouldn't they know that they were actually home in Idaho, Florida, New Jersey -- or wherever -- and not in Canada?
But, alas, crooks know human nature as well as many sociologists and psychologists. So, they keep at the scams that pay off. And based on the resurgence of this one and how widespread the warnings have been over the past few months, it's worth another warning.
Grandma and Grandpa: If you get a call purporting to be from your grandchild in a Canadian jail, do call Mom or Dad, do get the name of agency that's supposedly holding them and DO NOT send any money. The scam also involves a pretend cop or bail bondsman, so don't go for that either.
Canadian authorities offers these tips:
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Resist the pressure to "act now." Don't panic.
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Know with whom you are dealing. Ask for his/her name and coordinates and confirm them for yourself or request assistance from a member of your family or somebody you can trust.
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Contact your local police to help you or to verify the legitimacy of such telephone calls.
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Be wary of unsolicited e-mails, telephone calls, or mail attempting to extract money from you or asking you to transfer money electronically urgently.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-20-2009 @ 10:56PM
Lou said...
Now this is sad.....scammers will just do anything to get money now a days!!
Lou @ http://EarningFreeMoney.com
Reply
6-20-2009 @ 10:49AM
bacondotty said...
Wow, pretty sad. times are tough and it brings out the worse I suppose!
Rif
www.privacy-web.tk
Reply
6-21-2009 @ 12:05PM
Gonzobot said...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - social engineering is the most profitable occupation on the planet, and you'll never see a school course for it. Stupid people don't deserve their money.
Reply
6-21-2009 @ 10:27AM
anon said...
This happened to my grandmother in April while I was at college. She called my parents who called me asking why I was in jail in Canada. Needless to say they realized I wasn't so she didn't pay. Good thing I answered my phone.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 9:27AM
steven said...
Grandparents are not the only victims in this scenario!
This scam happened to my grandparents. Same story line and money scam.
I was supposedly locked up in ontario, crashed my car with some buddies, and needed bail.
I received a phone call from my parents that day. Huge arguments were created, due to them believing I was the scam artist!!!!
I phoned my grandparents while sitting in my parents kitchen, just to verify that I was not the scammer, and that it was some lazy jobless idiot trying to make money!
But at the same time, with this "Great" economy, I imagine some people don't blame the crooks for these acts.
Reply
6-22-2009 @ 4:53PM
Blicious said...
Unfortunately this isn't a problem exclusive of the US. In Mexico scammers have been using the same method and their target are old people that sometimes aren't aware of these scams. Another method they use is to call you and casually say like "Hey primo!" (cousin) and start a conversation with you and ask you money for an "emergency" too. These people make me so angry.
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6-22-2009 @ 7:19PM
A. Vu said...
Now that is just low by bribing people to send money. Why would people of this generation stoop down to such a level and do that? Sure, the company/group that's doing it because they may possibly be in debt for money. But this is no way to act. Outsmarting people, grandparents, above all things! I just don't know what word to describe this.
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