FBI Releases Details on "Grandparent Scam"

Thursday, 13 July 2023

The FBI releases information on a scam involving suspicious phone calls.

Officials said the caller claims to be a loved one or family member in trouble and needs money.

The FBI said victims of the grandparent scam have been identified in Sangamon and surrounding counties.

Victims receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a loved one who has been in an accident with a pregnant woman and is being detained by police, said officials with the FBI.

They said the victim receives a second call from an attorney who claims that due to a gag order, the case cannot be discussed further and requests money for their loved one's release.

The scammer schedules an in-person pick-up to collect the money, said officials.

According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crime Complaint Center’s Elder Fraud Report, there were 400
victims over 60 years of age who experienced almost $3.8 million in losses due to grandparent scams.

FBI Springfield urges anyone who receives an unsolicited or suspicious call from someone claiming to be
a loved one or family member to hang up and verify the story with your loved one by calling them
directly.

To avoid becoming a victim of a grandparent scam, the FBI recommends following these tips:
• Be careful what you post online. Scammers can use details shared on social media platforms and
dating sites for targeting purposes.
• Be suspicious of telephone calls that require you to immediately take action and request bail
money for a family member in distress.
• Be careful with caller IDs that look familiar. Scammers may use technology to disguise the actual
number they are calling from and make it appear as a trusted number.
• Never give personal identifiable information or money to anyone you have only communicated
with by telephone or online

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