Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

Grandparent Scam - Scammers Posing as Grandchildren
Grandparent Scam - Scammers Posing as Grandchildren

Scammer are calling grandparents, posing as a grandchild in an emergency, in an attempt to trick the same grandparents into sending them money to aid their grandchild. The scammers send an email message to, or call the grandparents claiming that their grandchildren need money for bail, legal fees, food, injuries, repairs for their car, or other emergency. The scammers will then ask the panic grandparents to wire money to them or buy cash cards and send the numbers to them. This type of scam is called the "Grandparent scam."

The "Grandparent scam" has been around for years and has claimed a lot of victims. Scammers collect information about their potential victims on social media websites or from phishing websites. They then use the collected or harvested information about the grandparents and grandchildren to make their scam convincing.

This is why it is important that grandparents who have received emergency email messages or phone calls about their grandchildren asking for money, should always check with a family member to find out whether their loved one really need help. Or, call the grandchildren. And, should never buy cash cards, especially Green Dot MoneyPak, and send the number to strangers who are asking for money or some form of payment.

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