Consumer Advisory: Beware of “Grandparent” Scam

(Phoenix, Ariz. – October 16, 2008) Attorney General Terry Goddard today warned seniors to be cautious if they receive telephone calls from someone who claims to be their grandchild and requests money for an urgent situation. The Attorney General’s Office has received information that the “grandparent scam” has made it to Arizona.

In this scam, the fraud artist calls an elderly person and poses as their grandchild. The caller may say something like, “Grandma, I am so glad I reached you” or “Grandpa, it’s me, your favorite grandchild calling.” The caller waits for the grandparent to say something like, “Jimmy, is that you?” The caller will agree and state that he or she has either been in a bad accident or is in some type of trouble and needs money immediately. The caller then asks that the money be sent via money order or through a wire service such as MoneyGram or Western Union.