Getting a distress call from a relative in trouble is sure to stir emotions, but staying calm and finding out the truth can save thousands of dollars.
The “grandson scam” features conmen often posing as the victim’s grandson. The caller usually asks for money because they are in trouble in a foreign country.
A Sun City resident told the story of how she was conned by the scam. On the morning of July 7, the resident was waiting for her husband to get ready to leave for a visit to the doctor when she got a call from an unknown number with a familiar voice.
“Hi, grandma,” a young man claiming to be the resident’s grandson said.
The caller, whose name matched that of the resident’s own grandson, told of his trip with a friend to the Dominican Republic.
The friends met a pair of Canadians who offered them a ride to the beach in a rental car. The car was pulled over by police, who found marijuana inside. The grandson passed a drug test but was then taken to the U.S. Embassy.
The grandson told the resident not to tell his parents about the incident or they would be mad at him.
The resident said the grandson then handed the phone to an officer from the U.S. Embassy named Jim Miller, who discussed the court situation.
“He said…something like this: ‘We can arrange so he can get in to see a judge, maybe today if we’re lucky. Otherwise we’d have to keep him for six days. In order to do that, we need to have somebody put up $5,100, and you’ll get it back; it’s just a deposit. We’ll send you back a certified check for that amount. That’s nothing to worry about, but time is of the essence. Can you take care of this for us?’” she said.
The resident talked with her husband about the situation, then asked Miller if they could give the money through a wire transfer at a bank. He said banks in the Dominican Republic were closing in a half hour, so it was best to go through Western Union.
The resident and her husband drove to the bank to withdraw the money. The resident said her banker, who has known her for years, did not ask questions about her transaction at that time.
The couple then headed to the Western Union counter at Wisted’s Supermarket to send the money to the address, 5514 River Road, Santiago, Dominican Republic. The transfer came with a $415 Western Union fee. The resident was told by Miller not to mention the situation to anyone at Western Union, as it would delay the process.
When the resident called back, she spoke to Charles Dawson, a lawyer who said he would call back after hearing the judge’s orders. Dawson told her the judge dismissed the case and her grandson could go home.
Before they could release him, however, Dawson told the resident they would need to pay the judge’s $2,000 fine and the $3,000 legal fees.
The resident drove back to the bank to withdraw more money. This time, she said, she was questioned by a teller and warned of recent scams. The resident said she was sure, so the bank gave her the money, which she again took to Wisted’s.
At Wisted’s, the resident was questioned by the woman at the Western Union counter, but sent the money, this time receiving a fee of $407.
When the resident called the scammers after this transaction, they told her it was taken care of and her grandson would be taken to the airport. Later, the resident called her actual grandson’s cell phone. After two calls, there was no answer. She called again later around dinner time. This time, he picked up. When asked about the incident, he said he had never left home.
“So I realized I had been scammed. Scammed terrifically. Really clever guys,” the resident said.
The resident called the Huntley Police but was told there was nothing they could do. Between money sent and fees, the resident and her husband lost almost $12,000. Though the resident reported the case to the FBI and Western Union, she has given up hope of getting it back.
The resident is not alone as a scam victim. Sergeant Michael Hewitt of the Huntley Police Department said several cases of the scam were reported in Sun City in the past couple of years.
“I thought I was pretty sharp about this stuff; I knew there were scams going on, but I didn’t think I could be fooled,” the resident said. “They’re working on emotions – that’s what they’re working on.”
The resident said people her age were born in more trusting times, something the scammers take advantage of.
“Be very suspicious, and say you can’t talk at the time. Don’t open emails from anyone you don’t recognize,” she said.
Hewitt warned of email scams as well, saying that some emails that seem to come from friends, family, or even a bank may be scams. He advised people to take caution when handling emails that look suspicious and when receiving suspicious calls.
“The biggest thing on this is verify the information before you send any money,” he said.
Verification should be done by asking the caller something only the relative would know – the name of a family pet, a family joke, or a question about a shared memory. Questions regarding ages, birthdays, addresses, or names of other relatives can be found online by scammers.
Hewitt encouraged residents to seek out resources online to remain educated and ready to handle fakes and scams.
