With the holiday season approaching, the Boston Police Department is warning shoppers to be cautious of Grandparent scams.
Grandparent Scams: Protecting Seniors During the Holidays
Reports indicate that grandparent scams tend to increase during the holiday season. In these scams, fraudsters contact older adults via phone, text, or email, pretending to be a family member in trouble or claiming to represent that family member, such as a lawyer.
The scammers create a sense of urgency and fear, pressuring victims to send money through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or even gold. They often instruct victims not to tell anyone, making it harder to detect the fraud.
Victims are advised to hang up immediately if they receive such a call or message. Before taking any action, contact family members directly to verify the situation. Staying calm and double-checking the story can prevent these scams from succeeding.
Resources & Reporting: If you have paid scammers, there are some actions you can take to protect yourself from further issues and potentially get
money back. Follow the steps below on “What to Do if You were Scammed”
- Victims are encouraged to file a police report with their local area station. Please follow the link (here) to find your local Boston area station.
- If the scammers obtained your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov
- For additional reporting victims can also file with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).