Protect yourself from Emergency or Grandparent Scams

Emergency scams often target grandparents and play upon their emotions to rob them of their money. A grandparent receives a phone call from a scammer claiming to be one of his or her grandchildren. Callers go on to say that they are in some kind of trouble (e.g., car accident, jail, issues in a foreign country) and need money immediately.

How to spot the scam:

• Always call the child’s parents or friends to verify the story.
• Ask the caller questions that only your loved one would be able to answer.
• Never send money to someone you don’t know and trust. Verify the caller’s identity before you take any action.
• Don’t give out any personal information to the caller and ask yourself, “does the caller’s story make sense?”