WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderGrandparents Warned About Costly Phone Scam

Grandparents Warned About Costly Phone Scam

The Better Business Bureau is warning senior citizens to be aware of a phone scam that's costing victims thousands of dollars.

The call comes from a distressed person claiming to be the person's favorite grandchild. Then they say they are traveling in Canada and have been arrested or involved in an auto accident and need the grandparent to wire money to post bail or pay for damages.

"The key to avoiding this scam is to remain calm despite the ‘emergency' nature of the call and to verify the identity of the caller. Too often people are allowing themselves to get caught up in the false sense of urgency and they end up making emotional, instead of logical, decisions," said Dennis Horton, Director of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Regional Office in Rockford.

If you receive a call like this you are urged to call your loved one back and try to confirm that they are not in any trouble.

So far the BBB has received 350 reports of this scam happening across the country this year. About half of those were filed in July and August.

To report a scam like this call 888-495-8501 or log onto www.phonebusters.com