Staff writer
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an example of an attempted scam. The names have been changed to protect identities.)
Georgia, a 73-year-old woman living in Marion, had been home a few days after a stay in the hospital when she received a strange phone call.
“Hello, Grandma,” the caller said. “Don’t you recognize my voice? I’m your grandson. I’m in jail and I need your help.”
Georgia’s mind was still a little fuzzy after her hospital stay.
“Is that you, John?” she asked. “Your voice has changed a lot.”
Her 14-year-old grandson from Oklahoma was a quiet boy and usually didn’t say much.
The caller said he was in jail in Red Rock, Ontario, Canada, and needed money to post bail.
Georgia couldn’t figure out what John was doing in Canada.
“I’ll call your parents,” she said.
“No, don’t do that,” he replied. “I don’t want to upset them.”
“Well, how much money do you need?” Georgia asked.
“I need $6,000,” he said.
“I don’t have that kind of money,” Georgia replied.
He suggested several ways she could come up with the money.
“You could give me a credit card number,” he said. “Or you could go to Western Union and wire some money,” he suggested.
“I don’t have a car and I can’t drive,” Georgia said.
“Well, you could use a taxi,” the caller replied.
Her suspicions grew stronger by the minute. Didn’t he know that a small town like Marion doesn’t have taxi service?
When she continued to question him, he hung up, but not before trying another approach. He said the police would call her in 20 minutes to confirm the situation.
After Georgia got off the phone, she nervously called her daughter, who immediately called her brother, the father of the person who supposedly had made the call.
She learned the boy was at home with his parents. Then Georgia knew for sure it was a hoax. When the “police officer” called, she was ready.
She asked for his phone number and other information. He couldn’t give it. She again said she would contact the boy’s parents.
“No, don’t do that. The case is closed,” he said and hung up.
She breathed a sigh of relief and checked the number on her caller ID. It was (000) 123-4567.
Scams can be thwarted by checking for facts and refusing to give personal information to anyone who isn’t readily identifiable.