The old scameroo

[Ale-8(1)]

Got a call from a young man claiming to be my grandson.

"Which one?" I asked.

"The eldest." he replied.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I'm in (big city far away from his home), and I've been in a bad accident and . . ."

Sounded funny, so I interrupted him with "What's your cat's name, boy?"

Dead air.

Repeated the question . . . more dead air.

I hung up.

Called the appropriate family members and confirmed that all kids were accounted for.

I've heard of this scam, but never expected to get it myself.

Be careful out there.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi We got that one about 3-4 months ago my poor wife was in tears I'm in the back ground telling her it is a scam the voice on the phone is crying I'm in jail call and send money to a bail bondsmen he says he went to a wedding in Florida got drunk ended up in jail well he is in college in Washington state it is a Wednesday and he dose not like to drink
I wish there was a way to crawl back thru the phone line and CHOKE THE LIVING CRAP out of these PUNKS

Gramps

 

[Pat-inCO]

"Which one?" I asked.
"The eldest." he replied.
....
Be careful out there.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

That's where you missed. You should have repeated "Which One . . they are twins"

Then if you want to mess whit them say:
Builly-Joe-Bob or Sam-Phread-Al?

THEN hang up. :wink:

 

[Captain America]

Yup, my mom called me and said my brother needed bail in NYC, I told her it was a scam. I called the number back and told the guy I was the brother and I was in the City and could bring the cash to his address. The scammer asked me what my badge number was and hung up.

 

[arfmel]

“I wish there was a way to crawl back thru the phone line and CHOKE THE LIVING CRAP out of these PUNKS“

I agree

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Apparently those calls are successful occasionally or they wouldn't keep trying them.

Scum, they are!

 

[Bull Barrel]

Where ya really missed it was when he said he was the eldest you could have said "My God, its a miracle! You're alive! We thought you were dead! How did you get my phone number?"

 

[gasbag]

It's really odd that since I don't answer any call from someone that's
not in my contacts list that I never get these calls.
Wait; no it's not.

 

[WestTex]

Being retired, I love the scam calls from the SSA of IRS. Love having fun with them.

Now if it came to the point of involving a family member (especially being hurt or in trouble) - that is different.

 

[OVERLOADDED]

Apparently those calls are successful occasionally or they wouldn't keep trying them.

Scum, they are!

My neighbor received the call, his grandson is in college, with plans to join the Marine corp. So when the call came, they ponied up $2,200.00 so he would not have a record against his, future. Overloadded

 

[Acorn]

My SIL was a financial advisor at a local bank and tax return preparer. One day she got a call from her "local PD" that the IRS was coming to her house to arrest her for $15,000 in delinquent taxes unless she paid up over the phone and gave her a number to call with the payment info. She absolutely went in to panic mode. Calling on any family member she could to try borrow the money. Her brother, my BIL and I both told her it was a scam and after a while convinced her to ignore it. Makes me wonder if maybe she was a little generous in those itemized deductions she claimed. I'd loved to have had a couple friends pull into her driveway in a black sedan and see the look on her face. Yeah, we don't exactly get along. More like, tolerate.

 

[blume357]

There is even a upgraded take on this.... they check recent accident reports and can find an accident that some young person has had and then call the grandparent and tell them they need money to fix their car or what ever....

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Apparently those calls are successful occasionally or they wouldn't keep trying them.

Scum, they are!

Yes they are successful quit frequently.
They prey on the elder. Lot's who are confused or are in some stage of dementia or alzheimer's.
I know of more than one person that has fallen for scams like this and it is not because they are stupid.

My Uncle had dementia and before he was actually diagnosed with it he got caught up in scams like this.
It was like the scammers put him on a list.
When I found out about it , I got involved and actually got two different scammers caught.
They are now both convicted felons and where sentenced to do jail time.
They were supposed to pay back the money they stole from him but he died before it could be recovered.

Scum is not the word I would use for them. They are worse than that.