Better Business Bureau Warns Against "Grandparent Scam"

Sunday, September 18th, 2022 -- 7:01 AM

With college students settling in on campus, many of them living away from home for the first time, Better Business Bureau® warns consumers to guard against the so-called “grandparent scam.”

Scammers will call family members and pretend to be a child, grandchild or friend who has run into a difficult situation, often while traveling. The scammer may claim to have been arrested, mugged or hospitalized and make urgent pleas for money. These emergency scams are often called “grandparent scams” because they target senior citizens. Receiving a frantic phone call may scare people into letting their guard down, but BBB encourages everyone to make sure they know signs of this scam. If you get such a call, resist requests to send money immediately. Ask for a phone number to contact the person back, then check with other relatives to confirm the location of the person in question. Requests for you to send money by Western Union, MoneyGram, a prepaid card like Green Dot or MoneyPak, or a digital payment app like Zelle are often a scam.

Consumers nationwide have reported about 450 “family/friend emergency” scams to BBB Scam Tracker in the last three years. Here are some tips to avoid the grandparent scam: Know the red flags, Stay calm, Ask a personal question, but don’t disclose too much information, Do not wire money, Communicate, and Make a report. To report a scam or learn more about the latest scams trending in your area, go to BBB Scam Tracker.

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