Sunday, February 9, 2025
43.1 F
Roseville

Roseville Police Warn of Grandparent Scam

Elderly residents fall victim to the “grandparent scam”

Roseville Police report that they have had had two elderly residents fall victim to the “grandparent scam” this month.

On April 7, an 80-year-old woman got a call from a man who said he was her grandson. She answered with her grandson’s name, and he said yes, “that’s me,” and went on to tell her that he’d been in a car crash in the Dominican Republic, and needed her to send cash via a money gram to that location.  She did.  After she sent the money, she talked to her children and found out her grandson had not been in an accident.
 
On April 16, an 86-year-old woman got a call from a man claiming to be her grandson.  He claimed that he was in the Dominican Republic, had gotten into a car crash and thrown into jail (sound familiar?)  He told her to go to a certain grocery store and buy Moneygrams, and send them to a woman in the Dominican Republic.  She did so.  Afterwards she called her grandson’s family, and found out he was at home here in the local area.  Both victims lost substantial amounts of money.  Sending money via Moneygram or other wire transfer, or sending prepaid gift/credit cards (or reading the numbers on a prepaid gift card to someone over the phone) is just like giving cash away-it isn’t traceable or recoverable.
 
This despicable scam that targets kindhearted seniors just won’t go away.  If you get a call from anyone claiming to be a family member far away and in trouble, don’t be fooled.  Don’t give them your grandchildren’s names or any other personal information.  Get a number and tell them you’ll call them back.  Then call your grandchild at their regular home phone number, or call their parents or other relatives (the scammer will beg you not to, but do it anyway).  You will almost surely find out that your relative is at home, school or work, and is fine. 

 If you really fear that a relative is in trouble in a foreign country, BEFORE YOU SEND ANY MONEY, contact the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services (OCS) at 1-888-407-4747. They will help you verify whether the situation is legitimate or a scam!  You might even want to print this information and tape it next to all your phones, or your loved one’s..



Brighter Side

Trending

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

The Crepe Stop in Roseville

The Crepe Stop in Roseville. Savory & Sweet. Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, Gelato, Boba Tea.

Topics

LA-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Décor in Roseville

Transform your living room and bedroom with La-Z-Boy's comfortable home furniture. Shop for sofas, couches, recliners, chairs, tables, mattress in a box, and more today.

Roseville Pleasant Grove Creek Trail closure for critical repairs

Roseville, Calif. - The trail crossing over Pleasant Grove Creek is closed for critical repairs between Old Coach Drive/Phillips Park and the Orchard View Road trailhead parking lot.

RG Philips Park in Roseville

RG Philips Park "This 6.5 acre park features a children’s...

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier to Maidu Park

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

The Crepe Stop in Roseville

The Crepe Stop in Roseville. Savory & Sweet. Crepes, Pancakes, Waffles, Gelato, Boba Tea.

Roseville Today Super Bowl party picks for Eagles and Chiefs game

Roseville, Calif.- This Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Philadelphia take on the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. A super-sized rematch and unofficial national holiday of $8 million dollar commercials, food and drink and a little football.

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin, Calif.

All American Sweeping Co. in Roseville

All American Sweeping's objective is to provide personalized customer service with an emphasis on professionalism, communication, responsiveness and quality at a fair price

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Roseville Sheet Metal serving community’s heating and air needs for over 70 years

Roseville, Calif. - At Roseville Sheet Metal, we’re proud of our years of service to the Roseville area and look forward to helping you with your air conditioning and heating needs.

Paul Black’s Window Cleaning serving Roseville and South Placer County for over 30 years

Paul Black’s Window Cleaning Inc. has been serving Placer County’s commercial and residential window cleaning needs since 1990.

Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry in Rocklin serving the local community since 2000

Rocklin, Calif.- For nearly 24 years, Jason and Heather have grown their successful Stanford Ranch Family Dentistry practice by faithfully serving patients throughout the Rocklin, Roseville, and greater South Placer County region. Their business has grown to now employ over a dozen employees which helps them meet the growing demands of a successful local business.