Full Notification

“Grandparents Scam”

One of the latest trends Pasadena and the surrounding communities have been experiencing lately is called the “Grandparent’s Scam” also known as the “Emergency scam.”

In the typical scenario, 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 and need money immediately. They claim to have been in a car accident, are having trouble returning from a foreign country or they need bail money. You may get a call from two people, one pretending to be your grandchild and the other pretending to be either a police officer or a lawyer. They will ask questions prompting you for personal information. You will be asked to wire money through a money transfer company or to buy some pre-paid debit cards and are asked to give up the card numbers so they can be funded by the scammer.

Often, victims don’t verify the story until after the money has been sent. In some cases, scammers pretend to be your old neighbor or a friend of the family. Generally, the emergency scam is directed at the elderly in our community.

If you or someone you know is being scammed please have them contact the Pasadena Police Department, Financial Crime Unit at 626-744-4576. If the money has not yet been wired or funded, cease all communications with the scammers and do not send the money, then contact the police.

Contact: The Financial Crime Unit at (626) 744-4576 for further information or contact the Federal Trade Commission at: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts