Watch Out for 'Grandparent Scam'

An elderly Gainesville, Texas, woman received a call from someone who said he was her grandson in trouble.

He said he needed a little cash.

The woman sent the caller a check, and by the time she realized the call was a sham, her money was long gone.

The Gainesville grandmother apparently fell victim to a widespread scamming technique known as the "Grandparent scam."

The scenario usually begins with a phone call from an individual purporting to be a grandchild or other young relative of the elderly victim.

The caller uses personal information to draw the senior into a conversation and usually asks the victim not to tell anyone else about the call.

The con artist also uses deliberately vague terms and says things such as, "This is your favorite grandson" or "Guess who this is."

It isn't difficult for the perpetrators to make themselves seem like the real thing.

Social networking sites which contain personal information are wildly popular with everyone from preteens to older adults.

A savvy criminal can search MySpace, FaceBook or one of hundreds of genealogy sites and glean enough information to assume a new identity fairly easily.

Benelle Fitts of the Texoma Area on Aging said she learned of the local crime only after the victim told her story.

"That happened about a year ago," Fitts said. "She (the victim) just assumed the person was really who he said he was. She apparently couldn't tell the difference, and the person knew enough to deceive her. She wrote out a check and sent it to where the person said he was," she said.

Fraud against the elderly is a serious problem -- so common Fitts said, she often talks with her clients about new twists in senior exploitation.

"Whenever I hear about something or when I am made aware of anything, I talk to our seniors and caution them to be careful," she said. "Many of our seniors are so trusting. They would do things on a handshake."

The Texas Office of the Attorney General also warns retirees and senior citizens to be wary of the grandparent scam.

This type of fraud is particularly troubling, as it plays upon a grandparent's natural desire to protect a grandchild, according to a news release from the Attorney General.

The AG warns residents to watch out for the following:

• Callers requesting money.
• Callers claiming to be in Canada or other foreign location. 
• Callers insisting on secrecy. 
• Urgent callers pressuring quick action. 
• Callers with unfamiliar voices. 
• Callers requesting that money to be sent by wire transfer (because those funds are hard to track and almost impossible to recover). 
• Vague or elusive callers who get personal details wrong.

It pays to be skeptical of any callers requesting money.

If a relative calls and asks for money, it's important to verify the identity of the caller with personal questions a stranger would not be able to answer.

Seniors should not "fill in the blanks" for callers but should ask them to give their names. You may also consider calling back using a telephone number you know to be genuine. Another option is to ignore the caller's wishes and verify the story with another family member, the news release stated.