LPSO warns of ‘Grandparent Scam’ phone calls

Several Lafourche residents have been victims over the last few months of the telephone con sometimes referred to as the “Grandparent Scam,” where the caller claims to be a family member in distress and asks for money.

“The victims of these scams are often convinced they were speaking to the relative,” said Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre. “We have already seen Lafourche Parish residents victimized by this intricate scam, and we hope that by bringing awareness to it, we can avoid more residents falling victim to it.”

According to information from the LPSO, the caller often pretends to be a family member, usually a grandchild, and speaks in an upset tone of voice, saying he or she has a cold if their voice is not recognized. The caller normally tells the person answering the phone they have a limited amount of time to talk and that they need money to be bailed out of jail.

“These people often know personal information about the person he or she is pretending to be,” said LPSO spokesman Brennan Matherne. “They sound very convincing.”

The caller says he or she was traveling abroad with a friend and, after a vehicle accident or run-in with law enforcement, he or she is now in jail and needs the person answering the phone to wire several hundred or thousand dollars bail money through Moneygram or Western Union. The caller may contact their victim several times after the initial phone call, asking for more money, or place a separate call claiming to be a law enforcement officer, a U.S. official or an attorney verifying that the initial caller is in trouble and that more money may be needed to get the person out of jail.

“Don’t give out personal information on an incoming call,” Matherne advised. “Verify the identity of the caller and get some information from the caller. If they are legitimate, they should give their identity and information freely. Get their number, and try to call it back.”

In addition to asking for information about the caller, Webre also suggested collecting information about the jail and contacting the facility directly. Also call the person or family members of the alleged caller and ask about his whereabouts. If victims have caller ID, beware of calls bearing the 914 area code – which is in Quebec, Canada – as many of the scam calls generate from there.

“When there is any doubt whatsoever, before you send any money, contact the sheriff’s office to report the call,” Webre said. “Remember, no matter what you agree to during the conversation, you should always protect yourself by verifying all information prior to sending any money.”

Lafourche sheriff’s detectives are investigating scam reports, and ask that anyone who is contacted by a scammer contact authorities.

“This scam is not new,” Matherne said. “It’s already been documented on a national level, but it’s just starting to pop up locally. We will do anything we can to help victims, but we want to inform the public before anyone else is affected.”

Those who receive phone calls may also report the information to www.IC3.gov, a website run by the Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“We usually direct people who have been victims of such scams to this website,” FBI public affairs and media specialist Mary Beth Romig said in a release. “Usually, such incidents are small in terms of dollar amounts, and the federal team at that site compiles these cases to investigate a larger case.”