'Grandparent Scam' Popping up in Maryland; Police Issues Warning to Residents

State police in Maryland have issued a public warning about the "grandparent scam" that preys on unsuspecting senior citizens who are convinced their grandchildren need their help to bail them out of jail.

According to WUSA9, the Maryland State Police Cumberland Barrack has received reports of the scam in early February, where unscrupulous individuals have succeeded in stealing at $9,200 to $15,000 from their victims. However, other counties in the state have also had reports of the grandparent scam in the previous months.

The modus involves someone calling the seniors with claims that they are their grandchild, weaving a tale of legal trouble that has gotten them arrested. The caller then provides a phone number of an attorney who could confirm to the grandparent that their grandchild needs cash for bail.

Fortunately, some victims got wind of the scam before losing substantial cash, but not everyone had the same experience.

Worried Grandma Withdrew Money for "Grandson"

In Prince George County, the perpetrators were able to scam an old woman who believed that her grandson needed her help after a car crash and his arrest. The grandmother said that her "grandson" was crying on the phone, saying he did not want this to go on his record since he's a good person.

Worried, the grandmother went to the bank to withdraw $12,500 and then waited for a "bondsman" to pick it up without realizing she would never see this money again. She felt an urgency to the way the scammers operated, and they had information about her, which made her not suspect that this was all ruse.

The police said that if grandparents receive a distress call from their grandkids, they should resist the urge to help before confirming anything. Regardless of the dramatic stories they tell, grandparents are advised to call another family member or a friend of their grandson to check if it's true.

In South Carolina, the Oconee County Sheriff's Office also investigated one case of the grandparent scam. But instead of asking for bail money, the person claimed to be working in the fraud department of PayPal. After the senior gave his account information and financial details to the "PayPal representative," more than $10,000 of his money went missing.

Elder Fraud Increasing

Senior citizens are easy targets for scams because they have the money and good credit, and they can also be too trusting of other people. Seniors are also less likely to report being scammed because they don't know how or are ashamed of what happened.

Authorities said that older people should be cautious about receiving unsolicited calls or emails. They must also never give out private information, especially if this involves cash, checks, jewelry, or gift cards.

End the call with the scammer right away but call the police if there are any threats or a sense of danger. They may also report the fraud to the FBI.