Beware Bail Fraud Scheme
Recently, many in Western New York have been impacted by the “bail fraud scheme,” also known as the “grandparent scam.” While this is a long-standing scheme, it has become more personal as scammers are now showing up at homes to collect money.
How the Scheme Works
- Someone calls you, sometimes in the middle of the night.
- They pretend to be your grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend. Many times they will know the name of the person they are impersonating.
- They tell you they are in trouble (arrested, accident, travel).
- They will often have a second person pose as a relative or an official (such as police, lawyer, or doctor) who will validate the claim.
- They will ask you to keep it a secret, saying something like “Please don’t tell my parents.”
- They will ask you for money to fix the “problem” via wire transfer, Western Union, MoneyGram, gift cards, or sometimes even cash.
What You Should Do
- Ask the caller to prove they are your loved one.
- Don’t rush; ask questions.
- Resist the pressure to act quickly.
- Write down the phone number the call is coming from and how to get back in touch with them.
- Hang up.
- Call family members or your loved one to verify legitimacy.
- Never wire money, buy gift cards, or take out cash based on requests made over the phone.
- Contact local law enforcement.
Resources for More Information
- Always call 911 or local law enforcement if you feel you have been scammed.
- Lifespan Elder Advocates:
Locally: (585) 244-8400
or toll free 866-454-5110 - Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
or (877) FTC-HELP (382-4357)
Related Articles
Shopping for a Car? Be Prepared
The warmer months are usually a preferred time for consumers to shop for a new vehicle. With the current climate of the automobile industry being quite competitive, it is important to go into a dealership prepared. ...
Pittsford FCU Financially Sound
After a year of managing the challenges associated with the pandemic, members may be wondering what has changed for Pittsford FCU. We are aware that some businesses were unable to endure the many changes that COVID-19 invoked, and that certainly might trigger some concern about the safety of your finances. ...
2021 Scholarship Winners
We would like to congratulate all the applicants of the 2021 Rochester Chapter of the New York Credit Union Association Scholarship and the Pittsford FCU Making a Difference Scholarship. ...
