Consumers warned about "Grandma Scam"

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Attorney General Peter Kilmartin is warning Rhode Islanders about a resurgance of the "Grandma Scam."

Scammers will target elderly people and call them posing as a grandchild who urgently needs money because they've run into some kind of emergency.  The scammer will ask the person to wire a sum of money quickly.

Sometimes the scammers pose as police officers or attorneys representing a grandchild, or a close friend of the grandchild.  Some of the alleged problems the scammers say the grandchild has run into include legal trouble in a foreign country, the loss of a wallet or airline ticket, having a credit card stolen, or being in a car wreck.

Kilmartin said that the scammer hopes to capitalize on a grandparent's concern for their grandchild and hope to overwhelm the victim with the urgency of the situation.  People can avoid being victimized by double-checking the story the caller tells them to determine whether or not it's true.

Warning signs of the "Grandma Scam" include being asked to send money quickly and secretly, if the phone call comes from overseas, or if the person can't or won't answer personal questions that only the real relative would know.

Kilmartin said that people should always ask for a callback phone number and avoid volunteering information about yourself over the phone.  If you do send money via wire transfer, there's a chance you may be able to get it back if you call the wire transfer company before the money is picked up by the scammer.

Anyone who thinks they may be a victim of consumer fraud can call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at (401) 274-4400.