STAFF REPORT
In an article titled
“Scam Alert: ‘Grandkids
Tap Grandparents for Fast
Cash” that appeared in its
August 4, 2008, AARP Bulletin
Today, the senior advocacy
group listed
several ways to avoid becoming
a victim to moneywiring
scams such as the
one that was attempted
on the Worths.
These tips include:
Don’t fill in the blanks. If the
caller says, “It’s your
granddaughter,” respond
with “which one?” Most
likely, the perpetrator will
then hang up, says the
Washington state Attorney
General’s Office, which has
posted an advisory on its
website, www.justice.gov/
ag.
Verify the caller. Always
confirm your grandchild’s
identity by saying you will
return the call at his or her
home or on his cell phone
(but don’t ask the caller for
it). If you don’t have your
grandchildren’s phone
numbers, contact a trusted
family member for them.
Be mum on account
numbers. Never provide
your bank or credit-card
account numbers to any
caller — regardless of the
reason.
Be suspicious of requests
for money wires. So if your
“grandchild” calls requesting
money, contact your
local police department or
state attorney general’s
office.
For more information,
visit www.fbi.gov/
majcases/fraud/fraudschemes.
htm, which has
a list of common fraudulent
schemes. To read
the AARP article, visit
http://bulletin.aarp.org/
yourmoney/scamalert/articles/
scam_alert___
grandkids.html
