QUITMAN CO DEIU1OCRAT 1

MARKS. MS
C~rculldlon= 1427
1I
WEEKLY
1111312008

BBB: Beware
.
of "Grandparent Scam"
'I
-.-
Ridgeland. Miss.. Novsmber , of ssberal thousand dollars. Verify the identity of the caller.
1
2008 -Senior citizzns nation\vids "This scam is particularly Call them directly. Don't jusr
have reported to the Bsttsr offensile because it pre1.s on the accept that the caller is the person
Rusiness Bureau (BBB) rhc loss emutions of seniors who want that they purport to be. Verify the
of thousands o f ;rdn;lrs to nothing more than to ensure the story with other family members
tzlephone scarns. Scammrrs pose safety and \\ell-being of their before sending money.
as grandchildren to dupe grandchildren." said Bill hloak. Don't agree to wire funds. Such
unsuspecting grandparents. PresidentICEO of the h4ississippi a request to send money through
The general scenario is that BBB. "The key to avoiding this Western Union or MoneyGram is
grandparents receive a distressed scam is toremaincalmdespitethe an immediate tip-off that the call
phone call from someons thc) 'emergency' nature of the call. may be part of a scam.
believetobe thei:gl-andchild. The Too often. people are allowing Funds sent via wire transfer are
supposed grandchild typically tiiemselves to get caught up in the difficult to track once received by
explains that thsy are travellingin false sense of urgency and they scammers and they are usually
Canada and have been arrested or end up making emorional not recoverable by la\\
invul\,rd in an auto accident. and decisions instead o f k i n g logical." enforcement or banking officials.
they need thegrandparent to \\,ire The BBB offers the following If victimized by this type of
funds to post bail or pay for thc tips for seniors who may receive distressed loved-one call.
damages -usually in the amount such scam calls: (Please see s*, page 5 )
SCAM, from page 4
immediately report the incident to your local police
department and the Attorney General's office. If the
request is for money to be wired to Canada. report
&e fraud to PhoneBusters
(888-495-8501 or www.phonebusters.com).
For more information from the BBB on common
scams, and for advice on avoiding consumer fraud.
visit the Mississippi BBB web sitc
(www.ms.bbb.org) or call 800-987-8280.