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PHONE SCAM HITS AREA SENIORS
NEWS RELEASE
DATE: January 18, 2012
Stafford, Va. The Stafford County Sheriff's Office reports a phone scam in the area aimed at swindling senior citizens. Since November, four senior citizens have received a call from an individual claiming to be their grandchild. In each separate incident the caller, pretending to be a grandson or granddaughter, told the senior citizen that they were in trouble in a foreign country and needed money to bail them out of jail.
In this scam the senior citizen receives a call where the caller identifies himself/herself as a grandchild in trouble with law enforcement in a foreign country and needs cash sent immediately to be used as bail money. Preying on the senior citizens uncertainty of which grandchild is calling, the caller is able to get the grandchild’s name and then pretend to be that person. Asking the grandparent to not call “Mom and Dad” because they want to tell them the bad news themselves, the caller then convinces the citizen to send the money by money order to an address they provide. This phone scam is being seen in other parts of the country as well.
In each incident in Stafford, the senior citizen receiving the bogus call has refused the request for money and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. This is not the first time that Stafford County citizens have reported this scam. It was first reported in Stafford County in July and September of 2009.
The Stafford County Sheriff's Office recommends that if citizens receive a call such as this to not send any money until they verify with other family members the authenticity of the call and the caller. Families can also develop a code word that easily identifies a family member should there be any question as to the identity of a family member who is calling. Anyone who receives this type of call may also call the Sheriff’s Office at 540- 658-4450
If you have information about regarding these scams, please go to the TIPS tab and help us with any information you can provide.
DATE: January 18, 2012
Stafford, Va. The Stafford County Sheriff's Office reports a phone scam in the area aimed at swindling senior citizens. Since November, four senior citizens have received a call from an individual claiming to be their grandchild. In each separate incident the caller, pretending to be a grandson or granddaughter, told the senior citizen that they were in trouble in a foreign country and needed money to bail them out of jail.
In this scam the senior citizen receives a call where the caller identifies himself/herself as a grandchild in trouble with law enforcement in a foreign country and needs cash sent immediately to be used as bail money. Preying on the senior citizens uncertainty of which grandchild is calling, the caller is able to get the grandchild’s name and then pretend to be that person. Asking the grandparent to not call “Mom and Dad” because they want to tell them the bad news themselves, the caller then convinces the citizen to send the money by money order to an address they provide. This phone scam is being seen in other parts of the country as well.
In each incident in Stafford, the senior citizen receiving the bogus call has refused the request for money and contacted the Sheriff’s Office. This is not the first time that Stafford County citizens have reported this scam. It was first reported in Stafford County in July and September of 2009.
The Stafford County Sheriff's Office recommends that if citizens receive a call such as this to not send any money until they verify with other family members the authenticity of the call and the caller. Families can also develop a code word that easily identifies a family member should there be any question as to the identity of a family member who is calling. Anyone who receives this type of call may also call the Sheriff’s Office at 540- 658-4450
If you have information about regarding these scams, please go to the TIPS tab and help us with any information you can provide.
Stafford Crime Solvers
What is Crime Solvers? The Stafford County Crime Solvers is a community program geared toward public involvement in the fight against crime. Each week, an unsolved crime is selected as the crime of the week. The facts of the case are posted on-line on our website, on Facebook and in the local papers. It offers cash rewards up to $1,000.00, and anonymity to citizens who provide information that results in the arrest or resolution of an unsolved crime. There are so many ways to provide your tips - telephone, text message and via the web!! See our tab above on instructions for submitting a confidential tip. There is someone available to service your tip 24 hours a day.
Crime Solvers asks and encourages anyone with information in any case or crime to please contact Stafford County Crime Solvers via text, the web or dialing directly to 540-659-2020 or Toll Free 1-866-493-1083. Remember, you do not have to give your name, just your information. If your information leads to an arrest or indictment, you could receive up to a $1,000.00 reward.
Crime Solvers asks and encourages anyone with information in any case or crime to please contact Stafford County Crime Solvers via text, the web or dialing directly to 540-659-2020 or Toll Free 1-866-493-1083. Remember, you do not have to give your name, just your information. If your information leads to an arrest or indictment, you could receive up to a $1,000.00 reward.
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If you have questions or comments for Stafford Crime Solvers, please e-mail us at information@staffordcrimesolvers.com - PLEASE DO NOT E-MAIL YOUR TIPS. This e-mail is strictly for comments and questions. If you have tips on a crime or suspected crime, please call 540-659-2020 or click on the "SUBMIT A CONFIDENTIAL TIP" link above to submit your CONFIDENTIAL tip.
If you have questions or comments for Stafford Crime Solvers, please e-mail us at information@staffordcrimesolvers.com - PLEASE DO NOT E-MAIL YOUR TIPS. This e-mail is strictly for comments and questions. If you have tips on a crime or suspected crime, please call 540-659-2020 or click on the "SUBMIT A CONFIDENTIAL TIP" link above to submit your CONFIDENTIAL tip.