‘Grandson in jail’ scam shows up again in Sweetwater County
Phone swindle targets seniors
by Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office
October 16, 2009
The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office (Green River/Rock Springs, Wyoming) issued an updated advisory concerning an ongoing phone swindle circulating in their county that targets seniors.
Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Dick Blust said the victim receives a telephone call from a man who identifies himself as the person’s grandson. The caller goes on to say that he is in jail, usually in Canada, after being involved in an accident, is facing DUI charges, and needs money for bail, damages, and attorney expenses.
The first call is followed up by a second, from a man who represents himself as the bogus grandson’s attorney, who "confirms" the story and presses the victim to wire the funds - usually about $4,000 - right away.
"The grandson is not in jail and the entire thing is a swindle," Blust said. "This scam was circulating in July, but is now making a comeback."
In addition to other reports made to law enforcement recently, an elderly woman in Green River, aware of the scam through alerts issued by the local media in July, notified the Sheriff’s Office through a family member Thursday morning that she had received such a call.
Blust encouraged Sweetwater County residents to be alert for similar calls, and to confirm independently any such information with other relatives before sending off any money.
For more information contact Detective Dick Blust, Jr., Public Information Officer, 307-922-5294, 307-350-4016, blustd@sweet.wy.us.
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Editor’s Note: We haven’t heard of this scam in Sublette County, but want to pass this information from the Rock Springs folks along to make people here aware of this scam. If anyone in Sublette County has experienced this phone scam, we’d appreciate knowing about it. – Dawn Ballou, Editor, Pinedale Online! support@pinedaleonline.com
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