The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about phone scammers who target elderly citizens by claiming their grandson had been in a car accident out of the country and needs medical attention, but cannot get surgery until he has money. The “grandson” then requests the grandparent to wire the money through Western Union.
The Sheriff’s Office received one report about this scam, but wanted to remind people to always confirm the emergency situation with a family member because money that is wired is almost never retrievable. The Internet and social network sites can reveal intimate details for scammers. Never give out personal or financial information over the phone and independently verify to determine it as an actual emergency exists.