For Immediate Release
| PR #: | 1500047 |
| Date Issued: | Apr 20, 2015 - 3:31pm |
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Sheriff Allen reminds residents to stay alert for scams targeting the heart strings of the elderly |
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| CONTACT: | Bob Harmon Washoe County Sheriff's Office Office 775-785-6235 Cell 775-722-5517 |
An incident that occurred over the weekend has Washoe County Sheriff Chuck Allen reminding residents today to stay alert for phone scams targeting the heart strings of the elderly.
On Saturday, the Sheriff's Office responded to the home of a Washoe County woman who had received a call from someone convincingly claiming to be her grandson. Pieces of family information, most likely obtained from the Internet, were interspersed in the conversation to add legitimacy to his claim.
The caller said that he had just been arrested for DUI out of state and was too embarrassed to talk to anyone else in the family. He asks his "grandmother" to help him out by wiring nearly $2,000 to a designated recipient.
Fortunately, the potential victim asked for help from another family member who grew suspicious, checked on the story, found it to be false and contacted the Sheriff's Office.
"It's deplorable that scammers will take advantage of the vulnerabilities of grandparents by pretending to be a loved one in trouble in order to trick them into sending money," Sheriff Allen said. "So I encourage each of you to protect yourselves and those you love against these scams by being aware of their existence and sharing that awareness with older people in your lives."
Through fictitious scenarios requiring immediate financial help for emergencies, such as getting out of jail or paying medical bills, scammers are relying on the potential victims feeling the need to rush to the rescue without taking the time to think the situation through.
The Federal Trade Commission suggests that, even if the story sounds legitimate, people should take a minute and run through the following steps:
- Stop. Don't act immediately, no matter what they say the crisis is.
- Check with the person who seems to be in trouble. Use a number or email address that you know is right. Check out the story. If you don't reach the person immediately, check with someone who might know his or her situation. If the caller says not to tell any other family members or friends, that's a sign of a scam.
- Don't wire money to anyone who asks you to. Wiring money is like sending cash — once you send it, it's gone. The same goes for prepaid debit cards. Nobody ever needs to be paid in prepaid debit cards.
To report scams of this nature, contact the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP.
The Washoe County Sheriff's Office is dedicated to preserving a safe and secure community with professionalism, respect, integrity and the highest commitment to equality. Sheriff Darin Balaam is the 27th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County since the Office was created in 1861. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office strives to ensure public safety by building trust and creating partnerships within the diverse communities in which we serve. We will promote the dignity of all people supported by our words and actions through open communication while fostering an environment of professionalism, integrity and mutual respect.
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