Portland Police Issue Warning of Scam Involving Grandparents

The typical scam involves a frantic call from a "grandchild" in trouble, or someone saying the grandchild is in trouble with the law.

The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind Portland area residents, especially seniors, that a common scam known as the "Grandparent Scam" remains active in the community. Image Salem-News.com File

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind Portland area residents, especially seniors, that a common scam known as the "Grandparent Scam" remains active in the community.

The "Grandparent Scam" has been around for many years and is just one variation of the impostor scams that dupe people into losing thousands of dollars.

The typical scam involves a frantic call from a "grandchild" in trouble, or someone saying the grandchild is in trouble with the law, had an accident, or is detained in a foreign country while on vacation. These calls often come late at night and the callers express urgency and the need for an immediate wire transfer of cash to help the grandchild.

The scammers are very crafty and are very convincing in many cases, so much so that victims truly believe the caller is a relative.

In recent years, some scammers have hacked into social media accounts and will direct message friends and family with a similar and urgent need for emergency money.

The Portland Police Bureau would like to remind community members of the following tips to avoid these scams:

1. Be skeptical. Ask questions that only family members would know - like pet names or favorite foods - without revealing too much personal information.

2. Verify information. Check with family members to confirm the locations of grandchildren.

3. Don't send money. Never wire money out of the country to persons unknown. This includes buying reloadable Visa cards.

4. Stay private. Regularly update privacy settings for social media sites. Scammers often make their stories more believable by trolling for personal information on Facebook, Twitter and similar sites.

5. Know where to turn. Victims suffering a financial loss should report incidents to local law enforcement agencies and the Oregon Attorney General's Office, Department of Justice.

Source: Portland Police