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The scam works by callers pretending to be a grandchild in some kind of trouble and desperately in need of money.
The person on the phone may have family names and personal information. And, they always tell their "grandparents" that money has to be sent in the form of cash from businesses such as a Western Union money order or by gift card, said AARP.
Unfortunately, even tech-savvy residents are falling for the scam. The organization says the best way for older residents to keep their money and identities safe is to be on guard and learn the tricks the scammers use and turn the tables on them.
Below are 5 ways you can help protect yourself from this type of scam offered by AARP:
- Use security software to keep scammers from stealing personal information from your computer.
- Don't open file attachments from someone you don't know. These can contain programs that enable scammers to get into your computer remotely.
- Be careful when on social media. Never reveal travel plans or schedules for others to see.
- If you receive a call from a grandchild asking for help, ask lots of questions that would be hard for an imposter to answer. Some examples include the name of the person's pet or their mother's birth date.
- Never say yes to a money transfer right away. Always hang up and call the person directly on their cell or work phone.
- If you fall prey to a scam, do not let pride get in the way, call the police.
- And if you've wired money, immediately contact the transfer service to report the fraud.
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