According to information released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Grandparent cons prey upon elderly men and women with grandkids or large extended families. At its essence, the Grandparent con preys upon a senior living alone or in a group setting who has access to assets that could be transferred to the thief. In most cases, the would-be thief contacts a senior by phone or by email and pretends to be a young relative in trouble. The senior receives a call from the thief, who sounds young and is of the correct gender. The con artist then pretends to be in distress; they could claim to be under arrest and need immediate bail money, to be lost in a strange place and need money to get home, or even to be held hostage and in need of ransom funds. The thief claims the parents are unavailable, unwilling to help or that they are afraid to tell their parents about the trouble-only the grandparent can save them. Victims of this con can get taken for thousands; the money they wire or transfer can't be recovered, and once the senior realizes that they've been fooled, the thief is long gone. This common con targets senior living communities and facilities and seniors who live on their own as well. Common Variations While the classic con outlined above is the most common, there are several variations. In some cases, an adult pretending to be a police officer, jailer, or kidnapper calls to demand money. In others, someone claiming to be the grandchild's boyfriend or girlfriend calls. The bottom line is always the same - the thief needs immediate funds and leaves no time for the victim to think. How to Avoid Being a Victim Since senior living communities and areas with large numbers of seniors are often targeted with this con, awareness is a key element. Once you know this exists, you will be more likely to question callers and wonder what is going on. If you begin to ask for verification or demand answers, the caller will likely disappear. Refusing to be rushed and getting off the phone as quickly as possible can help you avoid the con. Once you hang up, you can contact your family members directly and verify that they are OK. You can also spread the word to other elderly family members that someone attempted to defraud you and help them be wary of further attempts. Asking for verification is a fast and easy way to find out if the caller is authentic. Your real grandkids know their own birthdates, their parent's names, and similar information. Callers with vague information are trying to scare you into responding and making a mistake. The Grandparents Con continues to plague senior living communities and those living independently. Being aware of it and having a plan to cope with an attempt are the best ways to defend yourself and make sure you don't become a victim. When in need of senior living in Oregon, families turn to The Stafford Retirement Community. Learn more about our services at http://thestafford.net.
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